Did you know that approximately 72% of Canadian men have unhealthy habits? That men are 57% more likely to die from diabetes than women, and 79% more likely to die from heart disease than women? How about the fact that 67% of Canadian men are overweight or obese, and that those men are 40% more likely to die from cancer than women are? Yikes.
It’s clear—many Canadian men do not have healthy habits. In fact, on average, Canadian men spend approximately 10 years of their lives in suboptimal health, often because of misguided lifestyle choices and habits—habits, which if left untreated, put them at serious risk for disease and other chronic conditions. So, what’s a guy to do? Well, he can start by paying attention to Men’s Health Month—this June 1st to 30th.
Your resource for improving men’s health in Canada
The Canadian Men’s Health Foundation (CMHF), a driving force behind positive lifestyle changes for men, aims to inspire men to live healthier, happier lives. With a variety of online material, the CMHF provides useful tools and tips that help men make small changes for a big impact within their families and communities.
Founded in 2014 as a non-profit organization, the CMHF believes that resources for health should be easy to understand, relatable and fun. They posit that men don’t need a complete overhaul to change their lives for the better—rather, small, slow and continuous changes are the best way forward. The CMHF engages in plenty of activities and initiatives on a national level, including Men’s Health Month, the online men’s health check tool for risk assessment, and their national awareness campaign and website—DontChangeMuch.ca.
Don’t Change Much: Small steps for a big impact
The concept behind the CMHF’s health campaign is simple—don’t change much. We know, it sounds too good to be true, but small steps add up to big change. And because forming a new habit can take a lot of time, effort and hard work, small changes are more likely to stick than big, unsustainable leaps.
Research has shown that lifestyle is the single biggest risk factor for men. While approximately 30% of the health conditions that men struggle with are genetic, a whopping 70% are the result of poor lifestyle choices. And a bonus to cutting back on all those unhealthy habits? Why, you’ll get a better night’s sleep, of course!
Has the Don’t Change Much campaign had any impact? Without question. With the use of the CMHF’s online tools, 75% improved eating habits; 45% drank less alcohol; 70% increased levels of physical activity; 46% lost weight, and 35% reduced their stress levels.
What’s happening in June?
This year, the theme for Men’s Health Month is Move for your Mental Health—a series of virtual events that include fitness classes and movement pledges. In partnership with Anxiety Canada, workshops throughout the month will feature ways to improve well-being by chatting about coping strategies for mental health, stories from professional athletes and sportscasters, expert advice from health professionals, as well as guided fitness classes for beginners. All of these virtual events are free of charge, live and recorded, and feature well-known Canadians.
We’re advocates of health in all its forms, from mindfulness and fitness to nutrition and sleep. If you’re ready to start living a more active, healthy lifestyle, we’re here to help. From an in-house dietitian to complimentary sleep consultations, we can help you sleep better to live better. Book a complimentary sleep consultation, and take the first step in getting healthier this June.
