Researchers have discovered a critical disparity in the amount of exercise required to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease between men and women. Contrary to previous findings, scientists have found that while moderate exercise is sufficient for women to reap substantial health benefits, men need nearly twice as much exercise – nine hours a week – to achieve the same effect.
According to the study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, approximately 80,000 individuals participated in this analysis, providing valuable insights into physical activity and its impact on heart disease. The researchers analyzed data from wearable devices worn by volunteers participating in the UK Biobank project, which shed light on the sex-specific differences in exercise requirements.
The findings indicate that women who engage in moderate exercise for just 250 minutes a week can reduce their risk of developing coronary heart disease by 30%, whereas men would need to reach nearly nine hours of physical activity per week – equivalent to around 530 minutes – to achieve this same benefit. This suggests that tailored advice is necessary to address the differing needs of men and women.
The researchers also found that globally, one in three women die from cardiovascular disease. The study highlights the substantial health benefits women can gain from even moderate amounts of exercise, encouraging them to engage more actively in physical activity.
It appears that biological differences between men and women may contribute to these disparities in exercise requirements. The authors suggest potential explanations for this phenomenon include sex hormones, muscle fibers, and the ability to break down sugar for energy production.
The study's lead author emphasizes that both men and women can reap substantial cardiovascular benefits from regular physical activity. Nonetheless, the researchers acknowledge that many women worldwide fail to meet recommended exercise targets, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions to optimize cardiovascular health for women.
In a striking finding, the analysis of data on individuals with pre-existing coronary heart disease revealed that women who engaged in moderate exercise had nearly three times lower risk of dying during follow-up compared to similarly active men. The researchers stress that these findings underscore the critical importance of developing sex-specific strategies to address varying levels of cardiovascular risk among men and women.
The study's authors conclude by advocating for the development of tailored interventions to optimize cardiovascular health, particularly for women who are at higher risk due to biological differences. As one of the experts noted, "One size really does not fit all," emphasizing the need for targeted approaches to promote physical activity among women worldwide.
According to the study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, approximately 80,000 individuals participated in this analysis, providing valuable insights into physical activity and its impact on heart disease. The researchers analyzed data from wearable devices worn by volunteers participating in the UK Biobank project, which shed light on the sex-specific differences in exercise requirements.
The findings indicate that women who engage in moderate exercise for just 250 minutes a week can reduce their risk of developing coronary heart disease by 30%, whereas men would need to reach nearly nine hours of physical activity per week – equivalent to around 530 minutes – to achieve this same benefit. This suggests that tailored advice is necessary to address the differing needs of men and women.
The researchers also found that globally, one in three women die from cardiovascular disease. The study highlights the substantial health benefits women can gain from even moderate amounts of exercise, encouraging them to engage more actively in physical activity.
It appears that biological differences between men and women may contribute to these disparities in exercise requirements. The authors suggest potential explanations for this phenomenon include sex hormones, muscle fibers, and the ability to break down sugar for energy production.
The study's lead author emphasizes that both men and women can reap substantial cardiovascular benefits from regular physical activity. Nonetheless, the researchers acknowledge that many women worldwide fail to meet recommended exercise targets, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions to optimize cardiovascular health for women.
In a striking finding, the analysis of data on individuals with pre-existing coronary heart disease revealed that women who engaged in moderate exercise had nearly three times lower risk of dying during follow-up compared to similarly active men. The researchers stress that these findings underscore the critical importance of developing sex-specific strategies to address varying levels of cardiovascular risk among men and women.
The study's authors conclude by advocating for the development of tailored interventions to optimize cardiovascular health, particularly for women who are at higher risk due to biological differences. As one of the experts noted, "One size really does not fit all," emphasizing the need for targeted approaches to promote physical activity among women worldwide.