It’s well known that exercise has a positive impact on everything from cardiovascular health to cognitive clarity to weight management.
However, women persistently lag behind men in terms of physical activity — despite the fact that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all adults get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity and 2 days a week of activities that strengthen muscles, regardless of sex. (1)
This discrepancy is manifesting a “gender gap” that begins early in life and continues throughout adulthood. The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which this gap in levels of activity translates into different outcomes.
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What were the key findings?
The study followed 412,413 adults, more than half of whom were women, to see how their physical activity levels related to their chances of dying, particularly from cardiovascular diseases.
The results, unsurprisingly, found that leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) — defined as physical activities that are performed at the discretion of the person and include things like sports, exercising, and recreational walking — significantly lowered the risk of dying for both women and men. (2)
The more interesting finding was that women seemed to benefit even more from the same amount of physical activity than men do. Specifically, compared to not exercising, regular physical activity lowered the risk of dying from any cause by 24% for women and 15% for men.
The study also found that the amount of activity needed to start seeing benefits was less for women (140 minutes per week) than for men (300 minutes per week). Both men and women saw the maximum benefit at about 300 minutes per week.
These benefits were consistent regardless of the type of physical activity, including both aerobic activities (like walking or cycling) and muscle-strengthening exercises.
The implications of this study
Of course, like any study, there are limitations. For instance, the physical activity information was collected from participants through a questionnaire, which may have led to inaccurate or biased self-reporting.
Also, although the primary focus of this analysis was on LTPA, other activities could have contributed to outcome differences — especially ones that are susceptible to differences by sex, such as household activities.
While the methodology isn’t perfect, the results of this study are exciting because they suggest that existing physical activity guidelines, which currently don't differentiate between men and women, should be more personalized.
This could also open the door to additional research that focuses on how different factors, from age to race, may impact individuals differently. All of this suggests a step closer to more tailored, comprehensive approaches to healthcare.
Key Takeaways:
A new study finds that physical activity has different outcomes for men and women.
Specifically, women seem to benefit even more from the same amount of physical activity than men do.
This implies that exercise recommendations may need to be more personalized in the future.
It’s well known that exercise can have a positive impact on various aspects of health, including cardiovascular health, cognitive clarity, and weight management.
However, women often engage in less physical activity compared to men, despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending that all adults aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity and 2 days a week of activities that strengthen muscles, regardless of sex. (1)
This discrepancy contributes to a “gender gap” in physical activity that begins early in life and continues into adulthood. The study aimed to explore how this gap in activity levels might relate to different health outcomes.
[signup]
What were the key findings?
The study followed 412,413 adults, more than half of whom were women, to observe how their physical activity levels might relate to their overall health, particularly concerning cardiovascular health.
The results indicated that leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) — defined as physical activities performed at one's discretion, such as sports, exercising, and recreational walking — may help support overall health for both women and men. (2)
Interestingly, the study found that women seemed to experience more significant benefits from the same amount of physical activity compared to men. Specifically, regular physical activity was associated with a 24% lower risk of dying from any cause for women and a 15% lower risk for men.
The study also suggested that women might start seeing benefits with less activity (140 minutes per week) compared to men (300 minutes per week). Both men and women appeared to gain the most benefit at about 300 minutes per week.
These benefits were observed regardless of the type of physical activity, including both aerobic activities (like walking or cycling) and muscle-strengthening exercises.
The implications of this study
As with any study, there are limitations. For example, the physical activity data was collected through questionnaires, which may have led to inaccurate or biased self-reporting.
Additionally, while the primary focus was on LTPA, other activities could have influenced the outcomes, especially those that vary by sex, such as household activities.
While the methodology has its limitations, the study's findings are intriguing as they suggest that current physical activity guidelines, which do not differentiate between men and women, might benefit from personalization.
This could also encourage further research into how various factors, such as age and race, might impact individuals differently. This suggests a move towards more tailored, comprehensive approaches to healthcare.
Key Takeaways:
A new study suggests that physical activity may have different outcomes for men and women.
Specifically, women might benefit more from the same amount of physical activity compared to men.
This implies that exercise recommendations could become more personalized in the future.
The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.
Moore, S. C., Patel, A. V., Matthews, C. E., Berrington de Gonzalez, A., Park, Y., Katki, H. A., Linet, M. S., Weiderpass, E., Visvanathan, K., Helzlsouer, K. J., Thun, M., Gapstur, S. M., Hartge, P., & Lee, I-Min. (2012). Leisure Time Physical Activity of Moderate to Vigorous Intensity and Mortality: A Large Pooled Cohort Analysis. PLoS Medicine, 9(11), e1001335. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001335
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