Father’s Day Blog
With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday the 4th of September, we wanted to highlight how exercise can help common health conditions prevalent in men and how exercise may be the best gift you can give to your Dad this Father’s Day!
Today, the team at Longevity Exercise Physiology Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Bella Vista, Randwick, Pymble, Balmain, Neutral Bay, Coburg – Melbourne, and Barrie, Ontario – Canada offer advice on how to help promote longevity for men’s health through exercise and lifestyle changes.
The role of exercise in improving men’s health
Exercise plays a vital role in keeping men healthy, improving mental health and living longer! It helps to improve mood through boosting endorphins, manage stress and anxiety and reduce the risk of developing mental illness. It also helps to manage blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, improve bone density and increase muscle mass.
One of the key forms of exercise for males is resistance training. Resistance training can come in many forms, no one way is better than the other either, it depends on your specific goals and where you can train. Some examples of resistance training include:
- Dumbbell/Free weights training
- Machine weights training
- Bodyweight training
- Resistance band training
How much exercise do males need to do?
The Australian Physical Activity guidelines recommend:
- ≥150 minutes of moderate intensity OR 75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity per week (e.g., walking, running, cycling, swimming)
- ≥2 sessions of resistance training that each target all major muscle groups
- Older adults should perform exercise aimed at improving balance and preventing falls on ≥ 3 days of the week
There are many modifiable factors in addition to exercise that help to benefit men’s health. This includes:
- Appropriate alcohol consumption
- Adequate sleep (7-8 hours)
- Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines
- Balanced diet (e.g. 5 serves vegetable and 2 serves of fruit)
- Regular health check-ups with a GP
- Weight management (particularly waist circumference)
- Smoking cessation
- Speaking with friends and family about mental health
“…helps to improve mood through boosting endorphins, manage stress and anxiety and reduce the risk of developing mental illness.”
We understand there can be many barriers to exercise, such as work commitments, children, motivation, and enjoyment. An Accredited Exercise Physiologist can help you overcome these barriers by providing structure and strategies to fit exercise into your week. We are trained to improve health, fitness, well-being, performance and assist in the prevention and management of chronic conditions.
This year, give your Dad the gift of an individualised exercise program to help them better their health with Longevity this Father’s Day!
Call Longevity Exercise Physiology Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Bella Vista, Randwick, Pymble, Balmain, Neutral Bay, Coburg – Melbourne and Barrie, Ontario – Canada on 1300 964 002 to enquire today!
Written by Luke Dorizas
References
(1) https://www.menshealthweek.org.au/events/resources/male-health-infographics