How do we get more men moving?
Physical activity is central to men’s health. Being active helps reduce men’s risk of a wide range of common health issues including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and poor mental health.
However, the majority of men (7 in 10) do not meet the recommended weekly guidelines for physical activity and so getting more men moving has significant potential as a vehicle for improving men’s health.
The positive impact that physical activity can have on men’s health will be the subject of an online discussion as part of Men’s Health Connected 2023, a series of online events run by the Australian Men’s Health Forum. You can register to attend this free event here:
According to Exercise Is Medicine Australia, being active can reduce your risk of:
- Colon cancer by 60%
- Diabetes by 50%
- Heart disease by 40%
- Alzheimers by 33%
- Stroke by 27%
People who are "low fit" are at greater risk of dying than people who:
- Have high blood pressure
- Have high cholesterol
- Smoke
- Have diabetes
- Have obesity
As sport and physical exercise are popular features of Aussie male culture, they can also provide a useful, strength-based pathway for engaging with men, with the added benefit of creating opportunities to build men’s social networks.
In this series of online events, we will look at the evidence that links physical activity to better health outcomes for men. We’ll find out about some great projects that are working to improve men’s health through sport and exercise and we’ll focus on the actions that Government can take to increase men’s physical activity through policies and programs.
TAKE ACTION