The average man pays less attention to his health than the average woman. Compared to women, men are more likely to

• drink alcohol and use tobacco
• make risky choices
• not see a doctor for regular checkups

Men are assailed by the diseases that can affect anyone—heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, depression… But they also have unique issues such as prostate cancer and benign prostate enlargement.

Many of the major health risks that men face can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle: 

• regular exercise
• a healthy diet
• not smoking
• stress reduction
• and alcohol consumption in the moderate range (no more than two drinks a day) if at all.

So why is exercise important for men’s health?

Men have a lower life expectancy than women. In Australia, men have an average life expectancy of 79 years, compared to 84 years for women. Men also suffer more illness than their female counterparts.

Exercise plays a vital role in keeping Aussie blokes healthier, happier and alive for longer.

WHY IS EXERCISE IMPORTANT?

Regular physical activity helps to maintain a healthy body weight and reduce the risk of many chronic conditions and injuries. 

Despite the benefits, less than half of men aged 18–64 are sufficiently active. This number drops to 1 in 4 for men aged over 65. In addition, 7 in 10 Australian males are overweight or obese, increasing their risk of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and cancers.

But it isn’t just your physical health that benefits from regular exercise.Regular checkups and screening tests can spot disease early, when it is easiest to treat.

So don’t be an average man — get on board with protecting your health today.