Men’s Health Month: How You Can Stay Healthy & Fit

Key Takeaways

• Men's Health Week and Men’s Health Month are great opportunities to raise awareness about healthcare for men
• It’s also a good time to encourage fitness and healthy habits in men and boys
• Learn more about how you can improve your health and wellbeing!

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Everything You Should Know About Men’s Health Week/Month

When is Men’s Health Week?

Men’s Health Week is always celebrated as the week leading up to and including Father’s Day. Since Father’s Day changes every year (it’s always on the 3rd Sunday in June) the specific dates for Men’s Health Week vary.

When is Men’s Health Month?

June is Men’s Health Month.

What is the purpose of Men’s Health Week/Month?

Men’s Health Week and Men’s Heath Month are national observances to:

• Raise awareness about healthcare for men
• Encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice
• Encourage early detection and treatment for disease and injury among men and boys
• Promote boys, men, and their families to practice health living decisions including exercising and eating healthy
• Support families to teach young boys healthy habits

How is Men’s Health Week & Men’s Health Month celebrated?

Every year on Friday of Men’s Health Week, Wear BLUE Day is celebrated. It’s a day to wear blue clothes to show support and raise awareness for men’s and boys' health. You can also plan a health fair to promote information that remind men and boys how they can improve their health, fundraise for a men’s health organization, or jumpstart your own health habits!

What are some important statistics about Men’s Health?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Men in the United States, on average, die 5 years earlier than women ¹
• Men in the US die at higher rates than women from the three leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries ¹
• 1 in 2 men are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime compared to 1 in 3 women ³
• Women are 100% more likely than men to visit their doctor for annual exams and preventative care ³

5 Tips For Men to Improve Their Health

1. Stay Active

Are you exercising enough? The CDC states that adults need 2.5 hours of physical activity a week.⁴ Regular exercise can help control your weight, reduce your risk of heart disease, improve your mood, and more!

Are you getting in a well-rounded workout? Mix it up by getting cardio and strength training exercise in each week.

Looking for ideas? Join a recreational basketball, soccer, or volleyball league with friends. Start taking lunch break walks with your colleagues. Spend time on the weekend going on hikes with your family. As the weather warms up, play outside with your kids more. Use resistance bands for a quick at home workout. Go for a bike ride.

Here are some more ways to get started:

• 11 Exercise Games & Activities To Make Fitness Fun
• 33 TheraBand Resistance Band Exercises to Do At Home
• TheraBand High Resistance Band Exercises: Elevate Performance. Accelerate Recovery.
• 20 Family Fitness Ideas Beyond the Gym
• Full Family Fitness: 3 Ways to Work Out with Your Kids

Jumpstart your workout with some of our favorite fitness products!

2. Make Healthy Food Choices

Healthy eating habits may protect you from chronic diseases.⁴ Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day and limit foods and drinks high in sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol.

Learn more about healthy foods:

• 5 Superfoods to Add to Your Diet
• Cardiac Rehabilitation: Nutrition & Heart-Healthy Habits

3. Get Regular Checkups

See a doctor for annual checkups. If possible, talk to family members about your family health history so you can share this information with your doctor.

Learn more about what your medical professional might check: Don’t Leave Your Health Up to Luck

Then learn: How to Monitor Your Blood Pressure at Home

4. Quit Smoking

Protect your lungs! Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits including lowering your risk for different types of cancers. Quitting also helps protect those around you from second-hand smoke which causes health problems. Set a good example by choosing not to smoke and encourage others in your life to quit smoking too.

5. Take Care of Your Mental Health

Take the time to recognize and reduce the stress in your life.

Learn more about stress and how you can relieve yours:

• What Is Stress? Causes, Symptoms, & How It Affects Your Life
• 7 Ways to Reduce Your Stress
• Cardiac Rehabilitation: 25 Tips for Reducing Stress

Anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions are common and treatable. Seek professional counseling if needed. If you need immediate assistance, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255

References

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Minority Health. (2020). Men’s Health Month. HHS OMH. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3uC077F

2. Men’s Health Month. (2021). Men’s Health Week. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3g43Uqt

3. Men’s Health Month. (2021). Posters. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3fWtsWa

4. Office of Minority Health & Health Equity (OMHHE). (2019). National Men’s Health Week. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3d3kbK1

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided on this site, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.