A new study reveals that regular exercise provides women with greater health benefits than men. This discovery, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, demonstrates that although both genders benefit from physical activity, women experience more significant gains, especially in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.
This article will break down the study, its methods, and findings to explain why women may benefit more from exercise than men. Let’s dive into the details!
Study Methodology
Researchers from the Smidt Heart Institute in California examined 412,413 men and women in the United States who took part in the National Health Interview Survey from 1997 to 2017. The study excluded participants with pre-existing health conditions to ensure accurate results.
Key points:
- Participants were aged between 27 and 61 years old.
- 55% of participants were women.
- The survey included questions about the frequency and type of exercise participants engaged in.
By December 2019, 39,935 of the participants had passed away, with 11,670 deaths resulting from cardiovascular events such as heart attacks or strokes (The Guardian).
Key Findings of the Study
The study’s findings show that women who exercise regularly have a significantly lower risk of early death compared to men. In fact, women benefited from exercise more than men, especially when it comes to heart health.
Key findings:
- Regular physical activity reduced the risk of death by 24% in women and 15% in men (Fortune).
- Women needed less exercise to achieve similar benefits compared to men.
- Women who engaged in strength training had a 30% lower risk of cardiovascular events, compared to 11% in men (The Telegraph).
Differences in Exercise Habits
The study also revealed some important differences in exercise habits between men and women:
- 31% of women engaged in aerobic exercises like walking or cycling, compared to 43% of men.
- Men were more likely to perform muscle-strengthening activities like lifting weights and did both aerobic and strength exercises more consistently than women.
Despite these differences, women gained more health benefits from their workouts, especially concerning cardiovascular health.
How Much Exercise Do Women Need?
One of the most surprising findings of the study was that women can achieve significant health benefits with less exercise compared to men.
- Women needed just 140 minutes (about 2 hours) of exercise per week to reduce their risk of early death.
- Men, however, required 300 minutes (about 5 hours) of weekly exercise to achieve the same reduction in mortality risk (Fortune).
This shows that even small amounts of exercise can provide significant benefits for women.
Should Women Exercise Less?
Despite needing less exercise to gain benefits, the study’s authors do not suggest that women should exercise less. In fact, they encourage all women to be active, even if they can only manage shorter workout sessions.
- Dr. Hongwei Ji, co-author of the study from the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, emphasized that small amounts of exercise can lead to major health improvements (The Guardian).
- Dr. Susan Cheng, director of the Institute for Research on Healthy Aging, explained that even 20-30 minutes of vigorous exercise a few times a week can have tremendous benefits, especially for women (The Telegraph).
Challenges Women Face in Exercising
The study also highlights some of the challenges women face when it comes to staying active. According to Dr. Martha Gulati, director of preventive cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute, women often juggle work, family responsibilities, and other tasks, which can leave little time for structured exercise.
Dr. Gulati also noted that the study didn’t account for household activities such as:
- Chasing after children
- Gardening
- Household chores (NBC News)
These types of daily physical activities might contribute to the health benefits women experience, even though they aren’t traditionally considered “exercise.”
Why Women Benefit More from Exercise
According to Paul Arciero, professor of sports medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, the physiological differences between men and women may give women an edge when it comes to reaping the benefits of exercise. He explained that women are generally more efficient at responding to exercise, especially regarding heart health and longevity (NBC News).
Conclusion
This study is a wake-up call for women who aren’t engaging in regular physical activity. Women can experience tremendous health benefits from even modest amounts of exercise. With just a couple of hours of activity each week, women can lower their risk of early death and heart-related issues.
So, whether it’s brisk walking, strength training, or chasing after children, it’s clear that women can gain significantly from staying active.