Headlines on health

Back pain, mental health concerns and arthritis are just some of the chronic illnesses affecting two in every five Australian workers. A new report has found a third of those experiencing such conditions have left jobs due to stress and a lack of support. Many have also experienced discrimination because of their illness.

There is a common misconception that eating disorders only affect women and girls, despite the fact over one third of those affected are male. And for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, there are often added barriers that force people to conceal aspects of their identity when seeking help.

Endometriosis affects one in every seven women. It's a disease causing tissue similar to uterus lining to grow in other parts of the body, often resulting in symptoms like period pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, fatigue, pain during sex and reduced fertility. Australian women will now have access to cheaper medicine to treat the condition, after the federal government listed a treatment on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

More than one third of those suffering with an eating disorder are male, and yet there's a common misconception that it's a women's issue. While there are often similarities between how men and women experience eating disorders, there are also gendered aspects to unhealthy body image ideals among men. Iin this episode of Weekend One on One, Catriona Stirrat speaks with Dr Zac Seidler - clinical psychologist and Global Director of Research at Movember. Dr Seidler unpacks common types of eating disorders among men - often centring around a fixation with muscle enhancement and reducing body fat. He shares how genuine male friendships might be the answer to tackling this often silently fought mental health issue.

A new free vaccine program from the Federal Government is expected to protect pregnant women and babies from the potentially-deadly respiratory syncytial virus or RSV. Health Minister Mark Butler says it could reduce hospitalisations due to the disease by 90 per cent.