June 17th, 2018

As reported over the weekend in The Independent, The Sun and The Mirror, Gillette commissioned a survey to mark their partnership with the Movember Foundation and to raise awareness of Men's Health Week which ran from 11th June up until Father's Day on 17th June.

Gillette survey reveals men ignore health risks
3 MIN READ

As reported over the weekend in The Independent, The Sun and The Mirror, Gillette commissioned a survey to mark their partnership with the Movember Foundation and to raise awareness of Men's Health Week which ran from 11th June up until Father's Day on 17th June.

The survey of 1,000 men aimed at identifying some of the key issues guys face when it comes to their physical health found that nearly a third admit they bury their head in the sand regarding their health and that they are avoiding visiting the doctor as they don't see it as important.

The study revealed three quarters (75%) will put off going to the doctors when showing signs of illness, with a quarter of guys saying it's because they don't have the time and 38.78% saying it's because they don't think it's important. Moreover, two fifths don't think it's necessary to get a check-up and nearly one in five believe they are healthy and therefore don't have to worry.

The research also found that millions of men aren't monitoring themselves for signs of some of the most common cancers in men. One fifth don't know what to look for when checking themselves for testicular cancer, and nearly half don't know what symptoms to watch out for when it comes to prostate cancer. Of those surveyed, 19% couldn't identify a single warning sign of prostate cancer – one of the leading cancers for men.

44% of 18-40-year-old men have never checked themselves for signs of testicular cancer, with nearly a quarter (23%) not knowing how to give themselves a basic examination, and of the men who have checked themselves, only 37% do it every month. Nearly half agreed they don't check themselves for signs and symptoms as much as they should, with 12% saying they are too busy.

Gillette Brand Manager Matthew Thomas added:

 

"Gillette is proud to continue our relationship with the Movember Foundation during such an important time. As a brand we strive to help men look, feel and be the best man they can be. This doesn't just mean giving them the greatest shave, it means being there to offer advice when it comes to the things that are important; whether that's being a good role model or taking pride in self-preservation and physical health. The stats show that the majority of guys take a lax approach to their own health and we're here to encourage them to change their habits, take their health more seriously and ultimately be the best man they can be"

Anne-Cecile Berthier, Country Director UK & Europe here at the Movember Foundation, said:

"The state of men's health is in crisis, too many men are unaware of the health risks they face and the actions required to stay mentally and physically well. Testicular Cancer is the most common cancer in young men. The recent findings that only 44% of men aged 18-40 have ever checked themselves for testicular cancer show there is still a long way to go before men are fully engaged with key issues relating to their health. Our mission is to stop men dying too young. This means funding research into prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. It also means equipping men with the facts and information so that they can take action on their health."

For Men's Health Week, we encouraged guys to follow a game plan to ensure they're leading the healthiest possible lifestyle. For details on the game plan, visit the Men's Health page