In an intriguing piece of news, a recent study has revealed that there is a gender gap between women and men when it comes to exercise. Women can exercise less often than men, yet receive greater cardiovascular gains, the study’s findings suggest.
The study is from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in the US. It has been published in the ‘Journal of the American College of Cardiology’ (JACC).
Authors of the study point out that women have traditionally lagged behind men in exercise. The fact that women can get more benefits from each minute of exercise is heartening news indeed, they say. They hope the news will motivate women to get more physically active in the interests of better long-term health.
The researchers analysed data from over four lakh US adults. Data from the participants, 55% of whom were women, was taken for the period between 1997 to 2019. Data was related to leisure-time physical activity. Gender-specific outcomes in relation to frequency, duration, intensity and type of physical activity were studied.
Lower mortality risk
The study showed that the mortality risk for women engaging in regular physical activity was lower by 24%. In the case of men the figure was 15%.
The researchers studied moderate to vigorous aerobic physical activity, such as brisk walking or cycling, and found that men reached their maximal survival benefit doing it for five hours a week. Interestingly, women achieved the same degree of survival benefit from exercising just under about 2 ½ hours per week.
The situation was similar when it came to muscle-strengthening activity, such as weightlifting or core body exercises. Men reached their peak benefit from doing three sessions per week and women gained the same amount of benefit from one session.
Also Read: Liquid Fasts May Lead To Weight Loss But Quick Reversal Too
