Wellbeing > Age Specific Information > Male > 35 - 50 years old

Male 35 - 50 years old

This page provides general information about health and wellness for men ages 35 to 50 years old, however individual experiences may vary.

During these years the metabolism we had as growing teenagers starts to slow down. We often tend to continue eating and drinking as we did during our twenties, but we often do less exercise as we become busy with work and kids. This imbalance in intake and output leads to weight gain. For most men this weight will be evident around the waist and stomach. This is called visceral fat, and is very dangerous to the body. Excess visceral fat results in greater risk of heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, strokes and decreased life expectancy.

Carrying extra weight during this period of our life will lead to greater damage to your joints, and is directly linked to the early onset of osteoarthritis. 

We can prevent weight gain during this time by limiting our intake of alcohol and sugary processed foods, and by engaging in regular physical activity.

During our 30’s, 40’s and 50’s we should engage in regular moderate impact and resistance exercise. This will help to maintain our bone density, limit joint damage, maintain muscle strength and prevent weight gain. We should start to look for alternatives to high impact exercise as we move into our 50’s, to take some pressure off our joints.

For ideas or further advice speak to your doctor or physiotherapist. 

As we age, changes occur in the chemistry of the brain, and less of the chemicals that help us feel happy are released. We may notice that we feel more grumpy, short tempered and depressed – or those around us may notice it!  The physical changes which we are going through create additional challenges for our mental wellbeing – we have more aches and pains, we might not feel as strong or as fast as we used to.  

It is important at this age to maintain or find new interests, particularly those that involve socialising, physical activity, and challenge for our brains. 

If you have questions or concerns about your mental or emotional health, speak to your doctor.

While being physically active is good for our health, repeatedly putting our joints and tendons under heavy load or severe strain throughout the working day can lead to the development of overuse injuries. If we have a highly physical job involving heavy lifting, high impact or repetitive work (particularly overhead) it might be a good time to start looking for less physical alternatives.  Perhaps consider a supervising or training role, step into an administrative or managerial role, or explore different careers.