Nearly 80 per cent of men in Manitoba are considered unhealthy.
The number comes from a new Canadian Men’s Health Foundation study, which found 72 per cent of men in the country live unhealthy lifestyles and regularly take part in two or more unhealthy habits, such as a poor diet, lack of exercise and sleep, and smoking cigarettes and drinking.
WATCH: Questions relating to men’s diet, fitness and activities formed the basis for the survey.
Manitoba and Saskatchewan were found to be the unhealthiest provinces in the country (78.6 per cent of men).
The findings are based on an online survey of 2,000 Canadian men aged 19-94.
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Just six per cent of the men surveyed said they take part in no unhealthy behaviours and are therefore considered very healthy, while 22 per cent of men in the study are considered healthy because they have only one unhealthy behaviour.
Men with two unhealthy behaviours (31 per cent) were considered borderline healthy, while 42 per cent of the men surveyed had three or more unhealthy habits (42 per cent).
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The study also found:
- 62 per cent of Canadian men have an unhealthy diet
- 59 per cent do not get 150 minutes of moderate-to-strenuous exercise per week
- 54 per cent under or over sleep
- 39 per cent have unhealthy alcohol consumption
- 20 per cent smoke cigarettes
“Take control”
Ross Bingham has recovered from a 2016 surgery in which he had his large intestine removed.
“I was pretty weak and decided that the best way to recover was not lying on a chesterfield watching TV, but to get out here and get some exercise,” he said.
Now Bingham. 68, works out about three times per week at the Reh-Fit Centre. He’s encouraging other people to do the same.
“You have to take control,” he said “It doesn’t take a lot of research to determine that a sedentary lifestyle is not the way to go and it’s the worst thing you can do. Being active is very important and I for one have found that out, I just wish I’d have started a lot sooner.”
Gord Fogg is a fitness professional and kinesiologist at the Reh-Fit Centre. He said an active lifestyle can be intimidating to older folks but it’s actually easier than it seems.
“It really doesn’t take a whole lot of effort,” said Fogg. “Many people can get a lot of benefit really from just going for a 10-minute walk a few times a week. Even just something as simple as standing up and sitting back down in a chair maybe 10 times or so.”
Fogg said he often works with older men who are recovering from sickness or another health scare, including cardiovascular disease and rehab, along with men who had prostate cancer.
He added that people who have never exercised previously should speak to their doctor beforehand.