Men's Health (magazine)

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Men's Health
Mark Wahlberg on the cover of Men's Health (U.S.), June 2008.
Editor	David Zinczenko
Categories	Health Lifestyle
Frequency	Monthly
Circulation	1.8m (2005) (U.S.) 15m (2007) (Worldwide)
Publisher	Rodale Press
First issue	1987
Country	United States
Based In	Emmaus, Pennsylvania, United States
Language	English
Website	menshealth.com
ISSN	1054-4836

Men's Health (MH), published by Rodale Inc. in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, United States, is the is the world’s largest men’s magazine brand , with 38 editions around the world, a monthly circulation of 1.85 million, and 12 million monthly readers. It is the best-selling men's magazine on U.S. newsstands. It covers fitness, nutrition, sexuality, lifestyle and other aspects of men's life and health. The magazine’s website, MensHealth.com, averages 40 million page views a month.

Launched in 1987 as a health-oriented service magazine by founding editor Mark Bricklin, Men’s Health has evolved into more of a lifestyle magazine for men, covering all aspects of a guy’s life: health, fitness, fashion, nutrition, relationships, travel, technology, fashion and finance. Stephen Perrine, the magazine’s former editorial creative director, once summed up the breadth of the magazine’s coverage as follows: “I don’t have problems. I have story ideas.”

David Zinczenko has been the editor-in-chief of Men’s Health since 2000. Jack Essig is the publisher. During this period the magazine’s circulation has grown 30 percent, and ad pages have grown 80 percent, from 700 pages to 1150. In 2004, Zinczenko began putting celebrities and athletes on the cover exclusively, and with their shirts on—a big departure from the cover look of the 1990s. In May 2006, the magazine published a limited edition color cover of Josh Holloway.

Under Zinczenko’s leadership, Men’s Health has been nominated for eight National Magazine Awards. It won in the category of personal service in 2004, the first for the magazine, and for parent company Rodale. It was also named to Advertising Age’s “A List” multiple times, and to Adweek’s “Hot List.” In 2007, Capell’s Circulation Report named the magazine “Best Newsstand Performer of the Decade.” In March 2008, Adweek named Zinczenko “Editor of the Year.”

In fall 2007, Men’s Health launched the FitSchools initiative to combat childhood obesity. The magazine sends health, fitness, and nutrition experts to selected schools each year to remake the physical education programs and school lunch offerings. Gettys Middle School, in Easley, South Carolina, was the first FitSchool. In spring 2008, the magazine launched The FitSchools Foundation, a nonprofit organization with the mission to help end childhood obesity and get America’s kids interested in healthy, active living.

Zinczenko is a regular contributor to NBC’s Today Show, often appearing weekly, and has appeared on Ellen and Oprah. He was also a Jeopardy question. He is a best-selling book author. His The Abs Diet franchise has sold more than 1.5 million copies to date. And his latest book, Eat This, Not That, coauthored by Men’s Health food and nutrition editor Matt Goulding, has sold more than 600,000 copies in its first six months.

In 2004, Men’s Health spun off Best Life, the fastest-growing magazine for discerning, accomplished men. Best Life is published 10 times a year and has a circulation of more than 500,000. Stephen Perrine, the former editorial creative director at Men’s Health, is the editor-in-chief. In March 2008, Best Life finished #2 on Adweek’s prestigious “10 under 50” Hot List, which recognizes magazines with fewer than $50 million in ad revenue.

In 2005, Men’s Health spun off Women’s Health. The test-issue team was headed by Bill Stump, a former Men’s Health editor who was then the head of Rodale Inc.’s New Product Development department. Women’s Health magazine is now published 10 times a year. David Zinczenko is the editorial director. Tina Johnson is the editor-in-chief. In March 2008, Women’s Health finished #1 on Adweek’s “10 under 50” Hot List.

In 2007, Men’s Health spun off Men's Health Living, a newsstand special which was named one of the 30 most notable launches of 2007 by Samir Husni (a.k.a. “Mr. Magazine”), chief of the journalism department at Mississippi University. The test issue of Men’s Health Living was edited by Bill Phillips, executive editor of Men’s Health.