Health Preservation: Stop Laziness—Get Moving Now!
An increasing number of men are showing early signs of health problems due to excessive stress and unhealthy lifestyles, yet they always cite busyness as an excuse for doing no exercise...
What’s wrong with men? Are they unable to walk?
"Walk 10,000 steps for health" is a quietly growing global health movement. Not everyone may walk 10,000 steps daily, but the key is developing a proactive mindset toward physical activity. According to *Xinhua Daily Telegraph*, during the recent "Shanghai Healthy City International Forum" held in Shanghai, Professor Currie from Queensland University of Technology, a pioneer of the "10,000 Steps" campaign, remarked with emotion: "This initiative has gained widespread popularity—our website has recorded a cumulative total of 6 billion steps registered. Yet I was surprised to find that most of these were taken by women. What’s wrong with men? Can’t they walk?"
"Modern men under stress are actually more vulnerable, yet their health issues are often masked by their strong appearance," said experts from the School of Public Health at Fudan University. Men have long symbolized strength, bearing heavier social, family responsibilities, and expectations, thus facing greater pressure. Yet public health systems often pay them the least attention—community clinics primarily serve the elderly, children, women, and the disabled. Upon reflection, nearly every group is covered except adult men.
Professor Li Daba from the School of Public Health at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, discussing why "men can't walk," said this isn’t just a problem in one city—it’s a global phenomenon. Adult men, especially around age 40, face serious health challenges worldwide. While awareness of this issue is growing, translating awareness into action remains extremely difficult. Surveys show that 75% of the "sub-health" population consists of middle-aged men. Increasing numbers of adult men are suffering early health deterioration due to excessive work and life stress and unhealthy habits. Dr. Jia Xiaodong from the Occupational Health Department of Shanghai CDC noted that men’s social and familial roles lead to greater pressure and responsibility, reducing their attention to personal health—often unconsciously ignored until problems arise. Relying on treatment after illness rather than prevention is extremely dangerous. Yet most men, for various reasons, remain trapped in this cycle.
According to WHO, about 35% of the global population is in sub-health status, and among them, 75% are middle-aged men. A recent survey of over 1,000 urban middle-aged men in Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Wuxi found that 70% are in sub-health due to excessive stress, with an average apparent age 5 years older than their actual age.
Experts remind us that men’s physical and mental health needs attention. Modern men should allow themselves to express emotions and reveal their vulnerable side. Even when busy, set aside time to care for your health. This in no way diminishes the image of a strong man—it greatly benefits your well-being.
Perhaps men remain busy and exhausted, but regardless of how busy or tired they are, they must genuinely care for their physical and mental health. Maybe start with walking every day.