"If you could bottle the benefits of physical activity, then there wouldn't be much need for a lot of other medication."
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While many Australian men rely on the old "it's genetics" to justify being overweight, having high cholesterol or blood pressure, or even drinking and smoking too much, health experts are using Men's Health Week to expose that myth for what it is: "an excuse".
Exercise Right physiologist Daniel Berkelmans said "70 per cent of a man's overall health is controlled by lifestyle choices, rather than genetics".
"Regular physical activity helps to maintain a healthy body weight, and reduces the risk of many chronic conditions and injuries," he said.
"A high level of cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the best predictors of overall health and well-being."
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Local men's health crusader Peter Annis-Brown doubled down on that science, stating regular exercise was also the most powerful tool in the battle against depression and anxiety.
Eight Australians suicide every day; six of them are men.
"Men think they are 10 foot tall and bulletproof ... until something happens to them, a family member, or mate," Mr Annis-Brown said.
"That is generally the kick up the bum we need, and unfortunately sometimes that can be too late - we need to be more preventative than reactive with health."
Inactive men are 60 per cent more likely than active men to experience depression, when a small dose of a combined one hour a week can help prevent it.
Mr Annis-Brown generally "prescribes" four basic exercise for anyone to do in push-ups, body-weight squats, dips and lunges, but said it could be much simpler than that to start.
"Anything is better than nothing - the first question I ask is: 'Can you spare just 10 minutes a day?'" he said.
"Walk from one room to the next. If you are sitting in a chair, start moving your legs and build up slowly - anything has an impact.
"Mental health is a big ship to turn around, but that starts with really simple preventative measures that we should all do.
"Life is full of adversity and challenges - it is how you bounce back that matters."
