Researchers have found that there is a “gender gap” between men and women when it comes to working out. And that favors women who are likely to not exercise as often.
Data analyzed on 412,000 U.S. adults showed that women derive more “heart health benefits” from exercise than men.
Professor Martha Gulati, director of preventive cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, says women can get the same benefits from exercise as men, but with less effort.
She explained that women have historically lagged behind men in the frequency of engaging in meaningful exercise.
“The great thing about this study is that women can get more out of each minute of moderate to vigorous exercise than men.”
The research team analyzed 22 years of data collected through the National Health Interview Survey. Their findings were published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).
Researchers found that women exercised less frequently than men, yet their heart gains were greater.
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“All adults who regularly engaged in some physical activity had a lower risk of death compared to those who were inactive.” The study’s senior author said: Professor Susan Chen.
“But interestingly, the risk of death was reduced by 24% for women and 15% for men.”
The research team also studied moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, such as brisk walking and cycling, and found that men reach maximum survival benefit by doing this level of exercise for about five hours a week, whereas women only I discovered that I could reach the same level in 2 hours. – 30 hours per week.
When it comes to weightlifting and other muscle-strengthening body exercises, men can reach their peak with three workouts a week, compared to just one for women.
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The study also showed that women had the greatest survival benefit when they exercised 140 minutes a week, but men needed to exercise twice as much, 300 minutes a week, to get the same benefits.
Women continue to receive additional benefits for up to 300 minutes per week.
Professor Christine Albert hopes women will take her research seriously.
“This pioneering research helps women who currently do not engage in regular physical activity understand that they stand to reap significant benefits with every increase in regular exercise that can invest in their long-term health. I hope this will give you an opportunity to do so.”
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