Men Die Younger Than Women — Should Men’s Health Get More Attention?
It’s a well-known fact: men have shorter lifespans than women. In the U.S., the average life expectancy for men is about 76 years, compared to 81 for women. But these numbers don’t just reflect the elderly—many men are dying earlier in life, influenced by a range of preventable issues.
Derek Griffith, a professor of health equity and population health at the University of Pennsylvania, believes it’s time to seriously prioritize men’s health. He acknowledges that for decades, women’s health was overlooked, with most clinical studies historically conducted on men. But ironically, Griffith says our understanding of men’s health remains surprisingly limited.
“Women’s health has been understudied—we don’t understand it because we haven’t invested in it,” he explains. “But with men, we’ve only focused on biology and genetics. We know very little about how stress, work, or socioeconomic factors influence men’s health.”
Griffith argues that given the shorter lifespans men face, more research into social and structural factors is urgently needed. He emphasizes, “It’s not a zero-sum game—we can promote women’s health while also improving outcomes for men.”
A Widening Longevity Gap
Griffith has spent decades studying men’s health, particularly among Black and Latino communities. He points out a worrying trend: the longevity gap between men and women is widening, and no one fully understands why. Of the 15 leading causes of death—including heart disease, cancer, accidents, and suicide—men fare worse in 13.
And the burden isn’t theirs alone. Poor health among men also affects their partners and families, who often shoulder the emotional and financial fallout.
Why Men Don’t Prioritize Health
Griffith pushes back against the idea that men’s poorer health outcomes are solely the result of bad choices. While it’s true that men tend to eat less healthily, he says that judgment ignores reality—especially for working-class men.
“Public health often assumes people wake up wanting to be healthy. But that’s not how most men think,” Griffith explains. “They’re focused on providing for their families. If a filling, cheap meal gets them through the day, they’ll take it—nutritional value is secondary.”
For many, food is also a way to manage stress, not just fuel.
Healthcare Access: Complicated and Inconvenient
In the U.S., there are a few centers specifically for men’s health, though many focus narrowly on sexual health. One standout is the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Men’s Health in New York City, part of NYU Langone. Dr. Steven Lamm, the center’s director, says they’ve designed it to be convenient because men often avoid the doctor.
“You have to eliminate barriers to care. That’s just reality,” says Lamm. He points to traditional attitudes that saw taking care of one’s health as a sign of weakness. But things are shifting—younger men are increasingly using apps, wearables, and seeking preventive care.
Lamm is encouraged by the growing number of young men coming in for routine checkups. Still, for many others, especially those under financial pressure, health isn’t the priority.
“They’re not worried about weight or blood pressure—they’re just trying to pay the bills,” Lamm says.
His message to patients: take care of yourself while you’re young. With medical advancements, those who stay on top of their health early can look forward to longer, healthier lives.
“We’re close to major breakthroughs—in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and heart disease. If you can just stay healthy in your youth, you’ll be in good shape to benefit.”
Letting Go of Superman
For many men, facing health issues can feel like a threat to their identity. Jack Rainer, a 70-year-old semi-retired psychologist from Tryon, North Carolina, remembers idolizing Superman as a boy—the ultimate symbol of male strength. So when he was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, it was devastating.
His treatment involved removing testosterone, which deeply affected his sense of self.
“I lost my gumption,” Rainer says. “It left me feeling vulnerable in a way I’d never experienced. I didn’t feel like a man anymore.”
Now cancer-free, he’s working to redefine what masculinity and vitality mean at this stage of life.
“I’m healthy at 70, but it’s still hard. I’m figuring out what this next chapter looks like—how to live it fully.”
The Way Forward
Griffith, Lamm, and others agree: men’s health deserves more attention—not at the expense of women’s health, but alongside it. From stress and food insecurity to social expectations and healthcare access, the barriers men face are real and often ignored.
If we want to close the lifespan gap, improve family stability, and reduce the strain on healthcare systems, it’s time to look beyond outdated notions of masculinity—and begin taking men’s health seriously.
