Man 'guilty' but upbringing is the main cause

You have found man guilty of crimes against his own health. Endorsing the vote of the Men's Health Week jury, malehealth readers felt that man himself should take responsibility.

However, when pushed further, readers were divided on the root cause of men's health problems with only 23% putting the blame exclusively at the individual's door.

Most, 26%, felt that the main reason why men die before women is the way men are brought up and 23% the way health services are provided. A further 23% cited other reasons including hard work, the 'male identity' and lack of socialisation.

Malehealth editor Jim Pollard said: 'the responses show the complexity of this issue. There's no one cause. Moreover,the fact that fewer than 50 men voted - one of the lowest polls I can remember - suggests the issue is too complex to discuss in a simple yes or no, guilty or not-guilty poll. This makes the average David Davis by-election look well supported.'

Men's Health Week trial

Prior to the mock trial which was part of Men's Health Week in June, malehealth readers were asked to nominate the typical male to stand in the dock. You selected Jim Royle of TV's Royle Family. (It had to be a fictional character as celebrities and their lawyers are so touchy these days.)

The same question — what is the main reason men die younger than women - was asked in that poll too and, on  a higher turnout (over 300), once again the way men are bought up was seen as the main cause of their health problems (29%).

Your verdicts

We asked you what you would say to man were you the judge. Here are some of the comments:

• You're too easily led
• Get together and fight for better health services along with getting your arse into gear taking care of your own health!
• eat better, train harder,drink less
• Wise up, be concerned and talk about issues. Men take more care of their cars than their own body. Have a yearly MOT for a man's body and health. Men must learn to not be shy or guilty when talking about their health and must be prepared to talk to each other about good and bad health issues.
• Think of your family - if you do not think of yourself. It is important that you look after yourself for both yourself and your family forget about being a macho man be a person who cares
• You have been raised to be fine. You have been ridiculed for asking for help, and mocked for showing weakness. The society in which we live expect you to carry on regardless, only the weak and feeble eat healthy foods, the lightweights drink less, and the wierdos take exercise. Real men eat burgers and fray bentos, drink 15 pints a night, and exercise by walking to the pub. You cannot be held responsible for the attitudes of the whole society. Go and enjoy!
• Health is linked to life style, which is normally driven by work. The bigest issues for me is the number of hours worked and work issues which carry over into your so say free time.
• I would sentence him to salad and exercise and ban him from fried food and alcohol
• Don't be so proud if you feel unwell seek advice
• Be honest about yourself and your health
• Man is expected to be tough, and look after the family, before his own well being.
• In general, I would say: "it's alright to be human, you don't have to carry the world on your shoulders". However, there are many parameters like socio-cultural background, economic status, educational background, family attitudes, that shape attitudes of individual men and consequently the answer would depend on the individual. Treating young boys as girls are treated in early life may help them [when they grow up] to accept that they may actually be and behave less superhuman. That would open the doors to dialogues between men and others at every level family, friends, colleagues and even doctors. Allowing him to alight fom his pedestal may need some coercing and may be very tall order isn't it?
• Think how you live your life
• it is your obligation to think of your family and the effect ill health has on them
• being the more powerful gender, you misused your power for empty pursuits. Only when you realize that your choices in living determine whether or not it enhances or destroys your health, will you then live a more conscious life.
• I find You not Guilty. due to the overwhelming mitigating sircomstances, that have agrivated you ill health due in part to drinking and smoking, along with a poor diet. all of which I am sertain have bee brought upon you, and your fellow man, by immense peer presure, to behave from early childhood, in a sertain way. to be macho, and not express any emotion, not to talk about your feelings and health. not to seek medical help, when you feel ill. as it is deemed, un manly by society in general, and through the lack of information on health issues by the health profession, and a clear lack of understanding by the medical establishment. if its any consolation, your case has highlighted a glowing lack of health provision towards men, as a result I will be taking drastic action to see abuse of all men will end, and all men in the future will have real health choices, based on support and information, and medical intevention
• Grow up.
• Take more care of yourself, and make the NHS take more care of you
• self control and discipline are required - this is not a natural male trait!
• Wake-up!