June marks Men’s Health Month, and there are many health risks that men should look out for in particular. Data from the Men’s Health Library show men are more likely than women to die from nine of the top 10 causes of death, including heart disease and diabetes. Plus, the stats indicate Black men are more likely to pass from those ailments compared to their white counterparts.
In honor of the time of year where the spotlight shines on men’s health, here are five celebrities who have elected to take control of theirs.
Nick Cannon’s Blood Clots Lead to Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis
“Wild ‘n’ Out” host Nick Cannon is one of the hardest-working men in show business. But it seems his grueling schedule got the best of him in 2012. That year he was hospitalized for blood clots in his lungs while on vacation.
“They kind of say [my] autoimmune [disease] is — like a lupus type of thing, but no one else in my family has it,” he told People magazine at the time.
Afterward, the star cut out junk food from his diet and told GQ he currently focuses on simply “eating clean” and hits the gym.
Gregg Leakes’ Cancer Diagnosis Shakes His World
The husband of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Nene Leakes is typically the one who lifts up those around him. But when Gregg Leakes got diagnosed with colon cancer in May 2018, it was he who needed support.
As part of an initial holistic approach to treatment, Gregg went vegan and began following an alkaline diet. However, months after the cancer was removed, the remaining cancerous cells in his body led Gregg to pursue chemotherapy. By April, he and his wife celebrated the end of his treatment, and by May, he revealed that he was cancer free.
“Won’t He do it ……Thank you Jesus & Praise God ……Thank you ALL for your Prayers for me and please continue to Pray during my journey,” he said in part on Instagram.
Gucci Mane’s Prison Time Leads Him to Kick His Vices
After Gucci Mane spent three years in federal prison on unlawful possession of a firearm charges, the rapper was forced to do away with his usual vices of alcohol and drugs.
“The day that I got arrested and stopped doing drugs, eventually it started to dawn on me that [I] had to start taking better care of myself before I [wind] up back in the same situation,” he said to Revolt TV. “Getting all those substances out my body made me able to realize that, listen, you got to work out, you got to eat better.”
The stint also resulted in a massive weight loss. In April, he revealed he’s managed to drop a total of 100 pounds.
Anthony Anderson Decides to Get Fit 13 Years After Diabetes Diagnosis
“Black-ish” star Anthony Anderson made his mark in Hollywood in the 1990s as a husky comedian appearing in a host of TV shows before making the jump to movies. By 2001, the star was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and began making small changes in his diet.
“I started eating healthier and in moderation, but I was still sort of eating the same stuff that I’d been eating all my life,” he told People magazine in 2014.
Yet it wasn’t until his turn on “Law & Order” in the late aughts that he got serious about losing the extra weight. He explained, “I got more serious about my health and appearance — not from a vanity standpoint. I just started making healthier choices.”
Rick Ross’ Mid-Flight Seizures Lead to Remarkable Weight Loss
Rick Ross had two seizures at 35,000 feet in the air in 2011, and while the reason why they occurred on the separate flights remains a mystery, the Telfon Don had a wake-up call. He went on to lose 100 pounds and explained to ABC News he maintains it by not totally giving up the food he loves.
“That comes from that balance of still being able to enjoy Wingstop with a couple of wings when I want to, but still four days out of the week I still go put in 45 minutes at the gym,” he said. “And that balance is what got me where I’m at, and I’m happy and I feel good.”
