Dear Mr. Dad: I’m 15, and my father, who’s in his mid-40s, regularly reads your column, which is why I need your help. He barely exercises, eats horribly, is an over-stressed workaholic. I’m afraid he’s going to die. What can my mom and I do to get him to take better care of himself?
A: Your email couldn’t have come at a better time—June was Men’s Health Month, but actually, every month should be Men’s Health Month—and it gives me the perfect opportunity to highlight the massive public health crisis that too many of us aren’t aware of: On average, men die five years younger than women, and die at higher rates of nine of the top 10 causes of death. Men account for over 90% of workplace injuries and fatalities, are far less likely than women to be insured, and are half as likely to see a doctor for preventive care. All of this impacts their ability to be involved fathers, supportive partners, and engaged community members.
There are quite a few things you can do to help your dad—and even more that all of us can do to help other men. Let’s start with dad:
- Appeal to his provider-protector. Over the years, I’ve found that the biggest reason men disregard their own health is that they’re too busy taking care of everyone else. What they don’t realize, however, is that if they die early, they’ll be hurting the very people they’ve worked so hard to protect. So remind him that you and your mom love him and need him to be alive and healthy for as long as possible.
