Dave Attwood, a second row with Gloucester Rugby, said:
"I believe the benefits of physical activity outweigh the results of an afternoon on the sofa, there's nothing better than getting the heart rate going, even is it a walk around the block and not necessarily a full rugby match!"
Men's Health Week 2010 aims to do two vital things: first, encouraging more men to become more active including (but not only) through sport; and second, encouraging sports stadiums and similar venues to deliver health services and health campaigns for men; one of which was launched on February 7th by John and Chris Hollins at Chelsea Football Club in association with Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
Men's Health Week 2010 will be the first-ever national campaign to encourage men to become more physically active.
Will James, also a Gloucester Rugby second row:
"The Mini-Manual that is produced for the Men's Health Forum is a great motivator to get anybody up and going not only for the physical but for the health benefits as well."
Men's Health Week coincides with the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and crosses over with National Bike Week, these major events are a great opportunity to engage men and encourage them to get more active and healthy. Male participation in physical activity starts to fall sharply in early middle-age while the risks of becoming obese and developing diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease rise correspondingly.
The government hopes to get two million more people active by 2012 and to help with this, Men's Health Week will be tackling the couch potato culture by encouraging men to get walking, jogging, gardening, swimming, playing sport... in short, moving more and being more active.
As Dr Ian Banks, President of the Men's Health Forum said "Just doing a small amount of physical activity can greatly improve a man's quality of life. Whether it's walking more regularly, cycling to work or even just using stairs not the lift, there are things we can all do as part of our daily routine."
Ahead of and during Men's Health Week, there will be a number of activities, including the following:
• Endorsements by sporting personalities and celebrities
• Local events arranged by health organisations, businesses, community groups and clubs
• A national launch event co-ordinated by the Men's Health Forum
• Publication of resources and materials for use by individuals and organisations. This will include a 'mini' men's health manual which will detail how men can be more active and healthy, produced by Haynes Publishing exclusively for the Men's Health Forum
"The Men's Health Forum is a great source of information and guidance for men who perhaps don't listen to their bodies as much as they should, but are nevertheless keen to make changes for the better." Dr Mark Porter - www.drmarkporter.co.uk
Confirmed Men's Health Week partners to date, Amey plc, Boehringer-Ingelheim plc, Camden PCT, Cancer Research UK, Coventry City Council, Department of Health, European Healthy Stadia Network, EMHF (European Men's Health Forum), Federation of Stadium Communities, Food and Drink Federation, Food Standards Agency, Greenwich Teaching Primary Care Trust, Harlequin Rugby League Foundation, Greenwich Borough Council and Primary Care Trust, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU), National Obesity Forum, NHS Choices, Pfizer Ltd, Prostate Cancer Research Foundation, Time-to-Change/Get Moving, Royal Mail, Royal Society for Public Health, South Asian Health Foundation, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Sport England and Sustrans.
Men wishing to start on the road to becoming more physically active should visit http://www.malehealth.co.uk/
