Research explodes 'health myths'

The overweight 'Uncle Norman' is a myth

Health researchers have produced evidence which they believe explodes the myths surrounding male lifestyles and mortality rates.

The team from Glasgow University said the fabled "Uncle Norman" who lived to a ripe old age by ignoring medical advice was actually six times more likely to die from a heart attack than health conscious people.

Researchers compiled their findings from a 25-year study of 6,000 men from the west of Scotland aged between 45 and 64.

They said the conclusion would help to put health stereotypes in perspective.

The "Uncle Norman" stereotype was first identified in the early 90s by an anthropologist, Dr Charlie Davison, and two colleagues.

Smokers were more likely to die younger

The Medical Research Council (MRC) Social and Public Health Sciences Unit took up the subject and surveyed men from the Paisley and Renfrew areas.

They found that 48 of the 107 "Uncle Norman" figures, defined as overweight heavy smokers, in fact died before the age of 70.

By contrast, only 12 of 337 lifelong non-smokers who were not overweight - commonly referred to as "the last person you'd expect" - died of heart disease before they reached 70.

The statistics also showed that one in 25 men in the "last person" category died of a heart attack, compared to a quarter of "Uncle Normans" - four times the number.

Professor Graham Watt, from the Department of General Practice at Glasgow University, said: "These interesting results put lay stereotypes in perspective. 'The last person' and 'Uncle Norman' are both real people, but they are both rare.

Risk factors

"The most important finding from the study is the huge difference in coronary mortality between men at high and low risk.

"In betting parlance, 'Uncle Norman' and 'the last person' are both outsiders; one should not bet against the established coronary risk factors as predictors of deaths from heart disease."

Dr Kate Hunt, Senior Research Fellow at the MRC said 'the last person' was a rare occurrence but often loomed looms large in public consciousness because such deaths were often "dramatic, unexpected and premature".

Dr Carol Emslie, of the MRC's Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, added: "'Uncle Norman' is not as common as people think, but it is true that there is a very small group of men who appear relatively immune to coronary disease risks.

"It is important for health promotion to acknowledge the existence of 'Uncle Norman' while emphasising that general healthy living advice is relevant to the vast majority of us."