Men's Health

Men's Health magazine started in 1986 as a test concept from Rodale, Inc. in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Editor Mark Bricklin and Rodale executives Larry Stains and Stefan Bechtel produced three newsstand test issues before the title officially launched as a quarterly in 1988. The first subscription issues hit mailboxes that year, and the brand quickly carved out a niche that blended practical health advice with broader lifestyle coverage.

Under editor Mike Lafavore, who took over in 1988 and stayed for eleven years, the magazine developed its signature approach: every page had to make a reader think "I didn't know that." That philosophy turned Men's Health into a powerhouse. By the late 1990s, Rodale's president Bob Teufel had grown the company from $60 million to $500 million, with Men's Health as the primary engine. The brand expanded internationally, and today it publishes 35 editions in 59 countries, making it the bestselling men's magazine on American newsstands and the largest men's magazine brand in the world.

Hearst now owns the title. The website MensHealth.com draws over 118 million page views each month, covering fitness, nutrition, relationships, fashion, travel, tech, and finance. The print edition remains quarterly with a circulation just north of 1.8 million. Past editors-in-chief include Greg Gutfeld, David Zinczenko, Bill Phillips, and Matt Bean; Richard Dorment has held the role since 2018. [edit]