Men’s fitness includes nutrition and exercise for teenagers and adults alike indicates Tennessee Men’s Clinic. It also includes men’s mental and sexual health. Men have different psychology from women so they usually have different fitness programs and nutritional requirements. Men’s fitness includes a wide range of topics such as nutrition, mental health, bodybuilding, and sports.
Function
Regular exercise and complete nutrition are essential for men of all ages. In the United States, less than 10% of high school boys met the minimum requirement of physical activity, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teenage males should exercise for an hour a day and a minimum of three hours a week. For middle-aged men, at least 45 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a day and 45 minutes three times a week should be spent on resistance or strength training. This is important because post the age of 30, men’s metabolism gradually starts to slow down. Fat is allowed to accumulate, particularly around the abdomen.
Benefits of Proper Fitness
The benefits of proper nutrition and fitness include a reduction of the risk of many illnesses. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are some such illnesses. By maintaining a regular fitness program all such risks can be reduced.
The exercises that help in the process are-
- Aerobic Exercise- A type of exercise of rapid or swift activity that requires the heart and lungs to work quicker to supply oxygen to the body.
- Stretching- Stretching improves muscle flexibility, burns body fat, and also helps to keep the waist in perfect shape.
- Weight training- Weightlifting mostly builds muscle mass, increases muscle volume, and increases strength and stamina.
Fitness Routine
Men’s fitness includes all levels of activity, depending on age, ability, and health, from gentle aerobic, to stretching. A general basic exercise routine for men aged 18 to 50 includes – muscle strength, muscle stamina, cardiovascular resistance, flexibility, and maintaining healthy body weight and symmetry, mentions Tennessee Men’s Clinic.
Obesity and Men
In the United States, more than 72% of American men age 20 and older are either over-weight or obese. One-third of all U.S. males age 20 and older are considered obese and nearly 6% are highly obese.
Common Diseases and Disorders
Sprains and Strains
A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament, the band of connective tissues that joins the end of one bone with another. Sprains are caused by trauma such as a fall or blow to the body that knocks a joint out of position. Areas most exposed to sprains are ankles, knees, and wrists.
Knee Injuries
Some other painful and functionally restricting knee problems include runner’s knee, iliotibial band syndrome (pain on the outer side of the knee), and tendonitis. This is marked by deterioration within a tendon, usually where it joins the bone) states Tennessee Men’s Clinic.
Fractures
A fracture is a break in the bone that can occur from either a quick, one-time injury to the bone (acute fracture) or from continued pressure on the bone over time. Acute fracture can be simple (a clear break with little damage to the surrounding tissue) or compound (a break in which the bone pierces the skin). A fracture that breaks the skin is particularly dangerous because there is a huge risk of infection.
Men’s fitness covers several areas such as nutrition, mental health, bodybuilding, sports, and sexual health. Regular exercise and proper workouts lower the risk of diabetes, and cholesterol, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, as also the risk of depression and anxiety. Maintaining a proper fitness routine helps to improve flexibility and stamina and plays a tremendous role in improving long-term health.