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Reflections on men's health from Professor Roger Kirby

Tackling the health challenges facing men is set to remain a key focus for healthcare professionals, as evidenced by plans laid out in the UK government's first ever Men's Health Strategy for England announced this week.

To raise awareness of the biggest issues affecting men’s physical and mental wellbeing this Men's Health Month, we featured RSM Immediate Past-President Professor Roger Kirby's insights in the November issue of RSM Connect – our member-led platform for sharing expertise, ideas and experience amongst the RSM community.

Professor Kirby spoke with RSM Fellow member and consultant, coach and speaker Caroline Beardall – also known as The Head Gardener – for her regular 'Expert Exchange' feature, which spotlights some of the leading voices from our networks in our exclusive members' magazine.

Key take-outs from the interview

  • Obesity, inactivity and overconsumption are the biggest health challenges men face
    “We live in an obesogenic environment – everything around us encourages overeating. Walk through a petrol station and you’re surrounded by chocolate bars, cupcakes and burgers. It’s relentless marketing.”
  • Weight-loss drugs are just one part of the solution
    "Fortunately, there’s hope in the form of the new GLP-1 agonist drugs – the same class as semaglutide – which can genuinely transform obesity treatment. They’re expensive now, but prices will fall. Still, self-control, exercise and education remain the best medicine."
  • There are no easy answers when it comes to prostate screening
    “It’s complex. At the moment, I don’t support universal screening. It would cost a fortune and lead to huge over-treatment. We need better, cheaper diagnostics before mass screening becomes realistic."
  • Healthcare professionals should plan for the coming impact of AI on men's mental health
    "Four out of five suicides are men, most of them middle-aged. Many have lost jobs, relationships, or purpose. With AI taking over many professional roles – lawyers, accountants, even writers – this could become an even greater problem. We need to prepare for that and create support structures."
  • Collaboration is key to advancing healthcare
    "We launched Prostate Cancer UK, which now raises around £50 million a year. It began as three small rival charities – mine was the Prostate Research Campaign – and we eventually merged them. That collaboration made all the difference."
  • Final thought? Prevention is paramount
    Roger's advice for men: "Look after yourself – physically and mentally. Stay active, eat sensibly, keep your weight down, and drink less. Most of all, talk. Don’t bottle things up. We’ve made great strides in medicine, but prevention still beats cure every time."

Join our community

Professor Kirby’s full interview in RSM Connect offers a clear, thoughtful look at the issues shaping men’s health today, and the personal experiences – including his Presidential tenure at the RSM – that have informed his work.

Find out more about joining our vibrant community of healthcare professionals here.

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