ALMOST half of Australian men are lonely and the impact on their health can be as damaging as smoking, obesity and some cancers, according to new research released ahead of Men’s Health Week next week from Monday, June 12 to Sunday, June 18.

A nationally representative survey undertaken by Healthy Male of 1282 Australian men revealed millions of Australian men were at risk with 43 per cent of Australian men lonely, and higher levels of loneliness reported by more than one in six men (16 per cent) overall.