This recent research indicates that women may benefit more from regular exercise than men, despite participating in fewer exercise programs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Cardiology recommend a minimum of 150 minutes per week of moderate or 75 minutes per week of vigorous physical activity, along with at least 2 days of muscle-building activities per week.
This is both for men and women, but fewer than 25% of American citizens can reach this minimum requirement. “Women have lagged behind men in engaging in physical activity,” co-author Gulati M., MD, with the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles.
A large-scale study involving nearly half a million individuals suggests that women who engage in regular exercise enjoy several health benefits. They have a decreased risk of premature death from any cause and cardiovascular events.
About The Study
This study was conducted by the Smidt Heart Institute researchers and was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
They collected the data from the CDC and The National Centre of Health Statistics through the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The data was from all 50 states of America and the District of Columbia.
Researchers obtained data from the NHIS from 1997 to 2017 for 646,279 adult participants. Later their records were then linked to National Death Index records until December 31, 2019.
The study did not include participants with pre-existing diagnoses of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or cancer.
Therefore, the remaining 412,413 US adults, in the mean age group of 44 to 17, were chosen for the study. The study included demographic and medical information from the NHIS database.
They performed a follow-up evaluation with the individuals about their physical activity frequency, duration, and type of assessment they performed. So, further in the study which says women may benefit more from regular exercise than men, let’s understand the research findings.
A Closer Look At Research Findings
The study reveals that 55% of the participants were women and more than 68% were white. During the follow-up of roughly 4.9 million people, there were 39,935 all-cause deaths. Among all-cause deaths, 11,670 deaths were due to cardiovascular issues.
However, the data also shows that few women who did not engage in any physical activity derive far better health benefits than their male counterparts.
The research also compared the previously available facts in sex-specific physical activity engagement. The study validates that only 32.5% of women were engaging in weekly aerobic physical activity. Whereas, 43.1% of male participants were engaging in weekly physical activity.
Understanding The Health Benefits Of Regular Exercise
Regular exercise offers numerous health benefits that extend beyond just physical fitness. The study reveals that some key health benefits from regular exercise include the following:
- Improves Cardiovascular Health: Exercise helps to regulate cholesterol levels, strengthens the heart muscle, lowers blood pressure, and improves circulation. It can also increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol while lowering levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. This reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Weight Management: Exercise helps to burn calories and build muscle mass, aiding in weight loss and weight maintenance. It also boosts metabolism, making it easier to manage weight in the long term.
- Stress Reduction: Physical activity stimulates the production of endorphins, neurotransmitters in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. Exercise also reduces levels of stress hormones like cortisol, leading to improved mental well-being and stress management.
- Improves Mental Health: Regular exercise is associated with a reduced risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. It can improve cognitive function, memory, and overall mood by promoting the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
- Strengthen Muscles And Bones: Exercise helps to build and maintain muscle mass, strength, and bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and age-related muscle loss.
These effects can vary because of the physiological differences between genders, such as hormonal variations, muscle composition, and cardiovascular structure. So, women may benefit more from regular exercise than men due to these differences.
Women might experience fluctuations in estrogen levels during the menstrual cycle, affecting energy levels and exercise performance. Men tend to have greater muscle mass and higher testosterone levels than women, which can affect their strength and ability to build muscle in response to exercise.
The Gender Differences In Response To Exercise
Physiological differences influence respective responses to exercise between men and women. Factors contributing to these differences include hormonal variations, muscle composition, and cardiovascular structure.
The study demonstrated that women who exercised moderately for 140 minutes per week experienced an 18% decrease in the risk of premature death. While men required 300 minutes of moderate exercise for the same benefit.
Women also tend to see more pronounced benefits from strength training exercises. This results in a 30% lower risk of dying for women from cardiovascular problems compared to 11% for men.
Women tend to have more capillaries in muscle sections and higher estrogen levels. This can be the reason which contributes to their greater cardiovascular benefits from regular exercise.
Conclusion
Women who participate in regular exercise experience better cardiovascular health, mental wellness, and a lower risk of chronic illnesses compared to men. Additionally, women appear to be more responsive to exercise. They can achieve similar health benefits as men with less time invested in physical activity.
The research shows that women may benefit more from regular exercise than men, primarily because of physiological differences. Although both genders benefit from exercise, women may require less time to achieve comparable health benefits.
This will encourage women to incorporate regular exercise into their lifestyles, even in modest quantities, which can yield significant health rewards.
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Disclaimer
This research article will help you understand that exercise is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This scientific evidence will help you motivate you to take steps to active lifestyle. So, be aware and initiate your steps. It is important to make yourself mentally strong before starting any new thing. Therefore, before starting, always seek advice from a doctor or dietitian if you have any concerns.
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