The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.
– Plato

It may not resonate with the stereotypical male, but the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation (CMHF) wants guys at VCH to start talking about their health.

“We want guys to think about their lifestyle,” says hockey legend and CMHF supporter Trevor Linden. “By making some small changes now, they can have better health for themselves and for the people who count on them.”

Canadian Men’s Health Week is June 15 to 21 and the CMHF has launched a nation-wide awareness campaign to ignite a men’s health social movement.

Along with Linden, a group of prominent men’s health “champions,” including Simon Whitfield, Adam Kreek, Shea Emry, Jim Hughson and Ned Bell are sharing selfie videos of their own health pledges.

CMHF founder Dr. Larry Goldenberg says men should be making similar health pledges, which you can do on their website at canadianmenshealthweek.ca.

“Men’s health is a serious issue that is often overlooked and requires more conversation, more awareness and more action,” he says.

Numbers don’t lie

Men are 79% more likely to die from heart disease and 57% more likely to die from diabetes. They are 29% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and 40% more likely to die as a result. Many of these problems are caused by the choices men make. They are 24% less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year, 67% of Canadian men are overweight or obese, and 85% of them exceed their daily recommended sodium intake. In the end, all these choices add up: Men on average have more than nine years of unhealthy life, most of which is preventable. And almost half of Canadian women are widows by the age of 65.

“A lot of guys are so busy taking care of their kids, their careers, and their partners that they forget to take care of their own health,” says two-time Olympic medalist Simon Whitfield. “We want guys to make some small changes to improve their health, for the people around them and for themselves.”

About the CMHF

The CMHF a national, non-profit organization founded by Order of Canada recipient Dr. Larry Goldenberg. The mission of CMHF is to inspire Canadian men to live healthier lives.

More information

For more information contact Michael Davis at michael@menshealthfoundation.ca or 604.505.3932