Medically reviewed by Dr Todd On, Associate Consultant, Family Physician, MBBS, GDFM, MMED (FM), MCFP (S)
Key takeaways
- A check-up is a snapshot. What happens in the months between visits, such as your waist circumference, your strength, your sleep and your drinking, shapes the numbers at the next one.
- About one in three Singapore residents has high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and these conditions can go unnoticed without a test.
- Muscle is a health asset, not only a gym goal. Muscle-strengthening physical activity is recommended at least two days a week.
- There is no single schedule for every man. The right tests depend on your age, family history and existing risk factors, and a doctor can help you decide.
“Do I need a check-up?” is a common question for men. A better one is: what should I be paying attention to the rest of the year? This guide covers the signals worth tracking, and the screening that fits different life stages.
How often should men’s health be checked?
The phrase “annual check-up” is common, but national guidance for people without known conditions is more specific and less frequent. Singapore’s screening guidelines call for diabetes and cholesterol checks once every three years and blood pressure checks as and when possible, and at least once a year. Cardiovascular risk screening (which includes diabetes and cholesterol/lipids) is recommended from age 40, although men with risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes or diabetes, chronic kidney disease, excess body weight, and a family history of cardiovascular disease may need earlier (from 18 years old onwards) or more frequent checks. Ask your doctor what interval fits you.
Recommended Reading: How often should you go for health screenings?
What does the national picture look like?
The National Population Health Survey 2024 (Singapore residents aged 18 to 74, both sexes) found diabetes in 9.1%, hypertension in 33.8% and hyperlipidaemia in 30.5%. MOH notes that prevalence of diabetes and hypertension has remained stable, but about one in three residents continues to have hyperlipidaemia and hypertension, and obesity has increased significantly. Heart disease and stroke account for nearly one in three deaths in Singapore. Heart attack incidence is higher in males, and just over half of heart attack patients (51.5%) have diabetes.
The takeaway for men is that the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are common, so by screening for these risk factors and managing them well early, heart disease and stroke can be prevented.
Which numbers are worth knowing?
Four measurements give a useful picture of metabolic and cardiovascular health:
- Blood pressure. Ask for your reading whenever it is taken, and note it.
- Cholesterol (lipids). Part of cardiovascular risk screening.
- Blood sugar. Part of the same screening, and the focus of the diabetes articles in this series.
- Waist circumference. Free, quick and often overlooked, but can be hard to measure correctly.
Knowing your last result and the date of your next recommended check is a simple habit that makes the most of any appointment.
Why does abdominal fat matter more than the number on the scale?
Singapore uses Asian-specific cut-offs because risk begins at lower body sizes. The Health Promotion Board’s obesity guidelines recommend BMI values of 23 kg/m² (for Asians) and 25 kg/m² (non-Asians) as cut-off points for public health action, and describe waist circumference as the most practical measure of abdominal fat, to be used together with BMI.
For Asian men, a waist of 90 cm is the recommended cut-off for abdominal obesity. This is why two men with the same BMI can have quite different risk profiles. Abdominal (visceral) fat is linked to insulin resistance and diabetes, and is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
How to measure your waist circumference
You will need a soft tape measure. Put the taper measure around your waist, at the level of the midpoint between your lowest rib, and the top of your hip bone, which will be around the level of your belly button. Stand relaxed, breathe out naturally, do not let hold your tummy in, and take your measurement. You can refer to this video for more clarity.
A word on body composition scales
Home body composition scales and apps are useful to show trends. However, research has found that, while a body composition scale is generally accurate at determining your body weight, it’s not very accurate at estimating your body fat percentage. This is because many factors can affect the measurements, from where your body stores fat, to how hydrated you are. If you want to more accurately measure your body composition to know your percentage of body fat, how your body fat is distributed, and how muscular you are, the gold standard to measure is via a DEXA body composition scan. Recommended Reading: Measuring Your Body Fat
Why does muscle health matter?
Muscle supports strength, balance, metabolism and independence. Research suggests that muscle decreases at around 0.47% per year in men, but at age 75 years, muscle mass is lost at a faster rate of 0.8-0.98% per year in men. However the lost of strength is even more significant at ate 75 years onwards, at a rate of 3-4% strength loss per year in men. This gradual loss of muscle mass and function is known as sarcopenia, and the loss of strength is a more consistent risk for disability and death than the loss of muscle mass.
The Singapore Physical Activity Guidelines recommend adults accumulate 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity (mostly aerobic) activity per week, plus muscle-strengthening activities targeting the major muscle groups on at least two days a week. Body-weight exercises, resistance bands and lifting weights all count. For older adults, adequate protein at each meal and daily vitamin D exposure also matter. The right amounts depend on the individual and are worth discussing with a doctor or dietitian].
Recommended Reading: Vitamin D and its Impact on Health
Recommended Reading: How much protein do you actually need?
What screening fits which stage of life for men?
Check with your doctor about the most appropriate health screening for your stage of life, family background, lifestyle and unique needs. A summary of Singapore’s National Health Screening Programme for men is shown below:
- Aged 18 to 39: Check your BMI every year, and your blood pressure once every 2 years. Know your family history and other potential cardiovascular risk factors that may need you to start screening for diabetes and high blood cholesterol earlier; a useful way to know is to use the Diabetes Risk Assessment (DRA) tool from Health Promotion Board Singapore.
- From 40: Check your BMI every year, and your blood pressure once every 2 years. Screen for diabetes and high cholesterol once every 3 years.
- From 50: Add on regular colorectal cancer screening either via stool testing or colonoscopy. It its good to also have an informed conversation with your doctor about prostate cancer screening.
- At any age with risk factors: Earlier or more frequent checks, set with your doctor, for example if you have are smoking, have high blood pressure, pre-diabetes or diabetes, chronic kidney disease, excess body weight, and a family history of cardiovascular disease.
- Testosterone testing: Not part of routine screening for men who feel well. However it may be useful to test your testosterone levels if you have symptoms such as reduced sex drive (libido), reduced morning erections, and erectile dysfunction.
More tests are not automatically better. A useful question to ask is: what is this test looking for, and what would we do with the result?
Frequently asked questions
What waist size is too large for an Asian man?
The recommended cut-off for abdominal obesity in Asian men is 90 cm.
How much exercise do adults need?
150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, plus muscle strengthening on at least two days.
Do all men need the same tests?
No. The right tests depend on age, family history and existing conditions.
Know where you stand
Then know what to do with NOVI Baseline Health Screening. NOVI Baseline is a comprehensive health assessment designed for people who want real answers. With more than 70 biomarkers across every major body system, your results are reviewed by a doctor, explained in the context of your lifestyle, and translated into a personalized action plan.
Included in the program are:
- Pre-screening consultation with doctor
- Post-screening consultation with doctor
- Physical Examination
- Testing of over 70 biomarkers
You can also opt for NOVI’s Men’s Health & Testosterone Assessment. This assessment looks beyond total testosterone by also measuring SHBG, free androgen index, DHEA-S, reproductive hormones and thyroid hormones.
About Dr. Todd On
Dr. Todd On, an Associate Consultant and Family Physician with 16 years of experience in tertiary and community care, specializes in person-centered treatment for acute and chronic conditions. He has led quality initiatives in smoking cessation and diabetic care and is an award-winning clinical tutor at the College of Family Physicians Singapore.