Campaign aims to make Swiss men healthier

Men in Switzerland are living less healthy lives than women and dying earlier. The warning comes from the Berne-based Radix Foundation, which has launched a national campaign to try to improve men's health.

Men in Switzerland are living less healthy lives than women and dying earlier. The warning comes from the Berne-based Radix Foundation, which has launched a national campaign to try to improve men’s health.

Radix says the average life expectancy for Swiss men is 74 years, which is seven years less than for women. Men are more often the victims of heart attacks, lung cancer and sexually transmitted diseases like Aids.

Men are also more likely to be involved in traffic accidents or to commit suicide.

Radix says the gap between the sexes can only in part be explained by biological factors. It says that behaviour is a key factor, with men more willing to take risks to overcome physical and psychological barriers.

The two-year campaign launched by Radix aims to heighten public awareness about male health and to make men more conscious about their style of living.

swissinfo and agencies