New man could have the last laugh in the health stakes after all, reports STEPHEN LEWIS

He may have gone out of fashion in the early Nineties, butt of a million jokes. But a slimmer, fitter 'New Man' could be about to have the last laugh.

Men's life expectancy is on the rise: and it's partly, it seems, down to a healthier lifestyle and attitude.

Until recently a 30-year-old woman in Britain could reasonably expect to live until she was 79, while her husband would be lucky to see his 75th birthday.

But the situation is changing. According to the annual British Lifestyles report from Mintel, men can now expect to live longer.

The survey revealed that the number of men over 60 will grow by 5% in the next five years. This means that in the life-expectancy stakes, men are catching up. The number of women surviving past the age of 60 is expected to increase by just 1% during the same period.

Doctors say the increase in male life expectancy is due partly to medical advances: but also to lifestyle changes which have reduced male vulnerability to cancer, heart disease (the biggest killer of men under 75) and other illnesses.

Last year just one in seven men died from heart disease, compared to one in four a decade earlier.

The numbers suffering from heart disease have also dropped, down from 450,000 in the early 80s to just under 300,000 in the late 90s.

John Roth of The Well Man Clinic said: "There have been huge advances in the treatment of the disease in the last ten years and if this continues we could be looking at eliminating deaths from heart disease within 15 to 20 years."

It's not only medical advances, he admits, which are responsible.

"Men today are less worried about seeking help from doctors than in previous generations, when it was considered wimpish and unmanly.

"And because heart disease is mainly triggered by lifestyle behaviour such as drinking, smoking and eating high cholesterol foods, it is fair to deduce that men themselves must also be contributing towards an improvement in their own health," he said.

"Men in general are becoming more health conscious and have a greater knowledge of nutrition, the need for physical fitness and the dangers of tobacco and alcohol than their fathers had."

Health conscious men taking responsibility for their own health? Whatever next? Dave Sear would certainly stop short of describing himself as a New Man. But he's at least making efforts to curb his New Laddishness.

Dave, 31, who admits to being 'over 20 stone' and who works as officer manager at those most 'laddish' of fun pubs McMillans and Merlins in Rougier Street, has suddenly got all health conscious.

Out have gone the regular nights of boozing on the town, the junk food eaten slumped in front of the TV, and the tendency to jump in the car for even the briefest of trips.

In have come Weightwatchers, regular rounds of golf, occasional attempts to leave the car behind, and even - shock, horror - the occasional helping of fresh fruit and veg.

Dave admits that he's already, after only five weeks, lost more than 22 lbs - and he's feeling fitter and more energetic as a result.

"I was drinking quite a lot," he admitted. "Three or four times a week, up to 20 units, beer and spirits, vodka and stuff." He'd never bothered with breakfast, he added: but made up for it later. "I used to have a couple of sandwiches for lunch, then trough out in the evening."

Now he's trying to limit his drinking to once or twice a week. His new diet is cereal for breakfast, a 'sensible' sandwich for lunch, and a tasty low-fat meal in the evening. At the moment, he admits, it tends to be Marks and Spencer ready meals: but he intends to go back to cooking soon, with proper fresh vegetables.

And how's he feeling? "I've lost 22lbs already, and I can walk up stairs without wheezing!" he said - before dashing off for a round of golf.

Hopefully, more of us will start to follow in Dave's footsteps. But according to Dr Ian Banks, chairman of the British Medical Association's Men's Health Forum, it's not all good news.

"There is evidence that certain groups of men are reducing the natural risk factor by looking after their health," he said.

"But although the (health) gap between men and women is narrowing, the gap between the affluent and the poorer socio-economic groups is widening, with huge disparities in life expectancy rates.

"Any increase in male longevity is welcome but sadly it is not a positive which will be enjoyed by all men."

PICTURE:Dave Sear is determined to give it his best shot, shed some of his 20-plus stones and feel tons fitter