Former Premier Peter Gutwein is encouraging men to improve their health

Former Premier Peter Gutwein says too many men his age visit the doctor more often than the gym, and he wants to inspire a change for the better. His health mission.

Personal trainer Tom Cleary with Peter Gutwein. 12 week challenge. Picture: Manuel Freudenmann

Former premier Peter Gutwein is on a mission to improve men’s health.

While men have traditionally not lived as long as women and had poorer health outcomes, a Tasmanian academic says the tide is turning and the gap is closing.

Mr Gutwein, 58, who was hospitalised after collapsing at work, has just begun a 12-week transformation program to improve his fitness, diet and sleeping.

“Too many blokes I know plan to slow down around my age,” he said.

“However I want to change up a gear instead and ensure that the last third of my life is the best.

“Too many blokes my age see more of the doctor than they do of the gym.”

Personal trainer Tom Cleary with Peter Gutwein. 12 week challenge. Picture: Manuel Freudenmann

He’s working with personal trainer and former PE teacher Tom Cleary on a fitness program, swapping cheese for low-fat yoghurt and chocolate for a protein bar, drinking more water and being more disciplined with his sleep, targeting 7-8 hours each night.

A former footballer, Mr Gutwein wants to be as fit and healthy as he was in his 20s and 30s.

“As you know, through overwork in my past role I ended up in hospital, I was hardly ever at home with Mandy and our kids, and I was living for the job.

“Balance is the key and finding some time in each day for yourself and your own health and wellbeing is really important.

“There are 168 hours available every week so taking just one hour a day to ensure that you are in good shape both physically and mentally is something all of us can do.

“But there needs to be a conscious holistic focus as well because training for an hour a day and then undoing it in the kitchen or not getting enough sleep doesn’t make good sense.”

Personal trainer Tom Cleary on right with Peter Gutwein. 12 week challenge. Picture: Manuel Freudenmann

Professor Mark Nelson, a Menzies Centre research fellow and chair of general practice at UTAS agrees exercise and diet are essential to men’s health.

“Men do have poorer health outcomes, but that’s actually been contracting over the last few years because men are reducing their smoking and alcohol intake,” he said.

“Traditionally for many years, there was about a seven year difference in life expectancy, it’s now down to about four and a half years in high income western countries.”

Prof Nelson said men were changing their behaviour and “it’s more common for men to come in and see their GP now than it was in the past”.

He said men should have regular checks to measure their cardiovascular disease risk and seek help for depression.

“You are what you eat and physical activity if we could bottle it, it would be the highest selling drug or substance on earth.

“I think it’s universally beneficial for mental health, reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks and strokes, and also cancer.”