A groundbreaking observational study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research has revealed that men may need nearly twice as much physical activity as women to achieve the same heart-health benefits, specifically in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. This study, which followed over 85,000 participants over nearly eight years, provides significant new insights into how exercise impacts heart health based on gender.
The study utilized wrist-worn accelerometers to track the physical activity of participants, giving researchers a detailed look at how varying levels of exercise influenced heart disease risk. The findings show that women who engaged in approximately 250 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week experienced around a 30% reduction in coronary heart disease risk. In contrast, men needed to log roughly 530 minutes of similar activity each week to achieve the same reduction in risk.
This disparity in exercise needs between men and women has prompted researchers to suggest that physiological differences, such as hormonal profiles and muscle composition, could play a key role. These factors may explain why women require less exercise than men to see the same cardiovascular benefits. As a result, some experts are calling for a reevaluation of public health guidelines, which currently offer one-size-fits-all recommendations, to reflect these sex-based differences in physical activity needs.
For individuals looking to improve heart health, the study suggests that while general recommendations (such as the widely endorsed 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week) are still relevant, men may consider increasing their activity levels beyond the current standard to see similar heart-health outcomes. On the other hand, women may find that they experience measurable benefits with less exercise, which could encourage them to stay motivated early on.
Health professionals emphasize that any increase in physical activity should be gradual and tailored to an individual’s fitness level. It’s important to recognize that while these findings provide new insights, exercise plans should still be personalized based on health history, current fitness levels, and individual goals.
Ultimately, this study contributes to the growing body of research that underscores the importance of understanding sex-based differences in health and wellness. By tailoring exercise recommendations to fit these differences, health experts can better support individuals in achieving optimal heart health outcomes.
