Study Reveals Men Need Twice as Much Exercise as Women to Lower Heart Disease Risk
A recent study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research has found that men need twice as much exercise as women to achieve the same reduction in coronary heart disease risk. Researchers analyzed physical activity records from over 80,000 participants and discovered that women who exercised for just 250 minutes a week could lower their heart disease risk by 30%, compared to nearly nine hours of exercise per week for men.
The study builds on previous research that suggests women benefit more than men from the same amount of exercise, but also reveals that women are generally less physically active and less likely to meet recommended exercise targets. According to the NHS guidelines, both men and women aged 16-64 should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, combined with muscle-strengthening activities twice a week.
However, the latest study highlights the need for tailored advice specifically for men and women, emphasizing that women can achieve significant health benefits with much less exercise. Globally, one in three women die from cardiovascular disease, underscoring the importance of this research.
The researchers' analysis showed that while both sexes could gain substantial cardiovascular benefits from physical activity, women who exercised regularly had a significantly lower risk of heart disease and even death compared to men. The study's findings suggest that sex-specific strategies should be incorporated into guidelines to optimize cardiovascular health for women.
Experts point to differences in sex hormones, muscle fibers, and the body's ability to break down sugar as potential factors contributing to the observed differences in exercise benefits between men and women. The study's lead author notes that tailored interventions could encourage more physically inactive women to engage in regular exercise, thereby reducing their cardiovascular risk.
In a related article, Dr. Emily Lau emphasizes the need for sex-specific strategies to optimize cardiovascular health for women, stating that "one size really does not fit all" and calling for action to develop targeted interventions to address these differences.
A recent study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research has found that men need twice as much exercise as women to achieve the same reduction in coronary heart disease risk. Researchers analyzed physical activity records from over 80,000 participants and discovered that women who exercised for just 250 minutes a week could lower their heart disease risk by 30%, compared to nearly nine hours of exercise per week for men.
The study builds on previous research that suggests women benefit more than men from the same amount of exercise, but also reveals that women are generally less physically active and less likely to meet recommended exercise targets. According to the NHS guidelines, both men and women aged 16-64 should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, combined with muscle-strengthening activities twice a week.
However, the latest study highlights the need for tailored advice specifically for men and women, emphasizing that women can achieve significant health benefits with much less exercise. Globally, one in three women die from cardiovascular disease, underscoring the importance of this research.
The researchers' analysis showed that while both sexes could gain substantial cardiovascular benefits from physical activity, women who exercised regularly had a significantly lower risk of heart disease and even death compared to men. The study's findings suggest that sex-specific strategies should be incorporated into guidelines to optimize cardiovascular health for women.
Experts point to differences in sex hormones, muscle fibers, and the body's ability to break down sugar as potential factors contributing to the observed differences in exercise benefits between men and women. The study's lead author notes that tailored interventions could encourage more physically inactive women to engage in regular exercise, thereby reducing their cardiovascular risk.
In a related article, Dr. Emily Lau emphasizes the need for sex-specific strategies to optimize cardiovascular health for women, stating that "one size really does not fit all" and calling for action to develop targeted interventions to address these differences.
! I mean, I knew exercise was important, but I had no idea how much more men need than women! Like, 250 minutes a week is just chillin' on the couch for me 
... and that's supposed to lower heart disease risk by 30%?! For women, it's like, literally half the time 
. And what's crazy is, women are way less active overall 
. I'm all about promoting exercise, but now I feel like we need to be super specific about how much and how often men and women should move their bodies 
. Maybe it's because of those sex hormones or whatever... idk 
. What do you guys think? Should we just make separate fitness plans for dudes and dudettes? 
I'm kinda surprised by this study, right? 
Men need twice as much exercise as women to lower their heart disease risk? That's a pretty stark difference. 
Women who exercise for 250 minutes a week are basically good to go, while men need nearly 9 hours of exercise to achieve the same benefits! 
It just goes to show that we need to tailor our fitness advice to each gender. 
I mean, it's not like women can't handle some serious sweat seshes... but apparently they do better with less. 
And did you see the stats on cardiovascular disease affecting women globally? 1 in 3 women die from it... that's just crazy! 
We need to get more women exercising and taking care of themselves! 
, maybe they just don't move around as much? 
it'd be great to see some tailored advice for women, you know, encourage more of them to get moving 
It's like our bodies are just wired differently or something. And honestly, it makes sense that the NHS guidelines should take this into account - I mean, who wouldn't want to hear they can get the same health benefits with a quarter of the exercise? 
. And it makes sense that sex hormones and muscle fibers play a role in how our bodies respond to exercise - isn't there some cool science behind this? 
Anyway, I hope this study inspires more women to get moving and prioritize their health - they're literally saving themselves from so much risk 
and women's bodies just work differently maybe it's those hormones or whatever but we need to start treatin men and women as individuals not just lumpin them together 
). Seriously though, it's all about finding what works for you and your body, regardless of sex. We need more research on women's fitness goals and how to get them moving in a healthy way 
150 mins of moderate exercise per week is def not enough for womens, especially considering how hard life can be for them in general, plus all the factors mentioned like hormones and muscle fibers... just not fair 
Like, what even is the deal with that? Is it 'cause of all those hormones and stuff they talk about in the article? I don't know, science, you're like... magic or something 
. But seriously, this just goes to show how complex our bodies are, and we need more research like this to figure out why some things work better for men vs women 
.