New research indicates that despite exercising less frequently than men, women experience greater health advantages from regular physical activity.
According to a national study, women who engaged in regular exercise—equivalent to at least 2½ hours of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week—experienced a 24% lower risk of mortality over the study period compared to their inactive counterparts. Conversely, men who adhered to a regular exercise routine were 15% less likely to die than those who did not exercise.
Interestingly, the study found that men required more exercise than women to attain similar health benefits. While five hours of moderate or vigorous exercise per week decreased the risk of mortality among men by 18%, women achieved the same benefits with just 140 minutes of weekly exercise.
Dr. Martha Gulati, co-author of the study and Director of Preventive Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai’s Smidt Heart Institute in Los Angeles, highlighted this gender discrepancy in the health benefits of exercise. She emphasized that women derived the same benefits from physical activity at lower levels compared to men.
Furthermore, the study revealed that women who exercised regularly experienced a 36% lower risk of mortality from cardiovascular issues such as heart attacks or strokes, while men saw a 14% reduction in risk.
Published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the research analyzed self-reported exercise habits from over 412,000 men and women who participated in the National Health Interview Survey spanning from 1997 to 2017.
The study noted disparities in exercise habits between genders, with roughly one-third of women regularly engaging in aerobic exercises, such as brisk walking or taking spin classes, compared to 43% of men. Women were also less likely to partake in muscle-strengthening activities like weightlifting.
However, the study underscored the importance of muscle-strengthening exercises, revealing that even one session per week was associated with significant reductions in mortality risk for both men and women.
Despite the insights gleaned from the study, Dr. Gulati acknowledged a limitation regarding the lack of data on women’s daily physical activities outside of formal exercise settings. She highlighted the significance of activities such as household chores and caregiving responsibilities, which were not accounted for in the study.
Addressing exercise recommendations, the Department of Health and Human Services advises adults to engage in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, alongside two days of muscle-strengthening activities. However, Dr. Gulati suggested that these guidelines might be overwhelming for individuals who are currently inactive, particularly many of her female patients who struggle to find time for exercise amidst their myriad responsibilities.
Data from the National Health Interview Survey also indicated that women in 2022 were more likely than men to have received advice from healthcare professionals to increase their physical activity levels.
Dr. Gulati emphasized the importance of individualized exercise recommendations tailored to fit into individuals’ busy lifestyles rather than adhering strictly to standardized guidelines. She stressed the need to consider practicality and feasibility when encouraging physical activity among women and men alike.
