Dads, is this true?
The sleepless nights, dirty nappies and the constant requirement to be alert of a crawling baby at all times... parenthood certainly changes people's lives in monumental ways.
However for men, it seems the joys of fatherhood actually has quite a profound impact their own health and lifestyle.
According to findings from Bupa Health Clinics in the UK, over half (56%) of men agree that becoming a father is the moment that finally prompted them to take action when it came to their physical health.
With 29% of men seeking medical advice in the first three months of becoming a dad.
The study also found that over two-thirds (69%) of fathers sought health advice within the first year of their child’s life and almost three quarters (73%) of those did so after becoming a father for the first time.
The statistics show that as responsibility kicks in, over a third (35%) of fathers said they had booked a health assessment after becoming a dad. More than half (57%) said they got a niggle checked by a health professional.
Dr Petra Simic, Clinical Director, Bupa Health Clinics', says: “We know men are sometimes reluctant to discuss their health, however, in our clinics, we regularly see new dads coming in for health checks. There are many reasons behind this. For example, new parents find that their sleep pattern drastically changes, and this can leave them feeling run down and exhausted prompting the decision to get their health checked out.
“Likewise, fatherhood can change a man’s perspective. Suddenly he is no longer just responsible for himself but for his whole family and this can trigger the need to make sure he is fit and well to support his partner and the baby.
“A health assessment is a fantastic way to get an overall snapshot of your health and help you to make informed decisions, which is why it is so popular amongst new fathers.”
