National Men's Health Week – Encouraging all men to get moving! 

For Immediate Release - 4 June 2010
 
This year, the annual National Men's Health Week (14-20 June 2010), organised by the Men's Health Forum, will encourage men and boys to be more physically active. Men’s Health Week will focus particularly on men aged over 35yrs old.
 
The Men's Health Forum will also use National Men's Health Week to highlight low levels of physical activity among males from ethnic groups in England. Compared to the general male population, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Chinese men are less likely than the general population to meet physical activity recommendations – a 30-minute moderate or vigorous activity session on at least five days a week (1). Fewer than 40% Black Caribbean and Black African men meet this recommendation.
 
Dr Ian Banks, President, Men’s Health Forum said: “After the age of about 35, there's a sharp decline in the amount of physical activity men undertake and most cite pressure of work, stress, divorce and children as the causes. However, physical activity has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety as well as decreasing the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes and can even improve sexual performance.
 
“Men's Health Week 2010 will highlight the many ways of staying healthy, even for people who claim to be 'too busy to exercise'. The week is not just about encouraging more men to take part in sport – there are many other ways of staying healthy. Simple things such as using stairs instead of the lift, getting off the bus one stop earlier and walking the rest of the way, cleaning the car by hand rather than going to the car wash and so on.”
 
To find out more and register for National Men's Health Week all men should visit: www.malehealth.co.uk
 
Editor's notes
1.  Source: Health Survey for England 2004. The Information Centre Copyright © 2008 The Information Centre, Lifestyles Statistics. All rights reserved
 
The Men’s Health Forum, a charity, is the centre of excellence for men’s health policy and practice. For further information about the Men’s health Forum visit www.menshealthforum.org.uk.
 
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