New Guidelines Suggest Men Need Twice the Exercise of Women to Mitigate Heart Disease Risk
A recent study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research has found that men may require twice as much exercise as women to reduce their risk of coronary heart disease. Researchers analyzed data from over 80,000 participants and discovered that women who exercised for just 250 minutes a week saw a significant decrease in heart disease risk, equivalent to a 30% reduction.
In contrast, men needed to reach nearly nine hours of physical activity per week – around 530 minutes – to achieve the same effect. This disparity highlights the need for tailored exercise guidelines that take into account sex differences, as current standards often apply equally to both genders.
According to researchers, women are generally less physically active and have a lower likelihood of meeting recommended exercise targets compared to men. This is despite the fact that women can achieve substantial cardiovascular benefits from moderate amounts of exercise, with one in three global deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease being female.
Dr. Jiajin Chen and colleagues analyzed data from activity trackers worn by middle-aged volunteers enrolled in the UK Biobank project. The study found that women who met the standard 150-minute weekly exercise target had a 22% lower risk of developing heart disease over eight years, compared to those who did not.
For men, the risk was 17% lower, but it wasn't until they reached nearly nine hours of physical activity per week – around 530 minutes – that their risk began to decline by 30%. The researchers also discovered that women with existing coronary heart disease were more likely to survive than similarly active men during the follow-up period.
While the exact reasons behind the disparity in exercise requirements between men and women are unclear, experts point to differences in sex hormones, muscle fibers, and energy production as potential factors. As a result, tailored interventions and strategies specifically designed for women may be necessary to optimize cardiovascular health.
Experts now stress the need for sex-specific guidelines and to move beyond general recommendations to provide targeted support for women who may not be meeting physical activity targets. The study's findings offer hope that by encouraging more women to engage in regular exercise, they can reduce their risk of heart disease and improve overall well-being.
A recent study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research has found that men may require twice as much exercise as women to reduce their risk of coronary heart disease. Researchers analyzed data from over 80,000 participants and discovered that women who exercised for just 250 minutes a week saw a significant decrease in heart disease risk, equivalent to a 30% reduction.
In contrast, men needed to reach nearly nine hours of physical activity per week – around 530 minutes – to achieve the same effect. This disparity highlights the need for tailored exercise guidelines that take into account sex differences, as current standards often apply equally to both genders.
According to researchers, women are generally less physically active and have a lower likelihood of meeting recommended exercise targets compared to men. This is despite the fact that women can achieve substantial cardiovascular benefits from moderate amounts of exercise, with one in three global deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease being female.
Dr. Jiajin Chen and colleagues analyzed data from activity trackers worn by middle-aged volunteers enrolled in the UK Biobank project. The study found that women who met the standard 150-minute weekly exercise target had a 22% lower risk of developing heart disease over eight years, compared to those who did not.
For men, the risk was 17% lower, but it wasn't until they reached nearly nine hours of physical activity per week – around 530 minutes – that their risk began to decline by 30%. The researchers also discovered that women with existing coronary heart disease were more likely to survive than similarly active men during the follow-up period.
While the exact reasons behind the disparity in exercise requirements between men and women are unclear, experts point to differences in sex hormones, muscle fibers, and energy production as potential factors. As a result, tailored interventions and strategies specifically designed for women may be necessary to optimize cardiovascular health.
Experts now stress the need for sex-specific guidelines and to move beyond general recommendations to provide targeted support for women who may not be meeting physical activity targets. The study's findings offer hope that by encouraging more women to engage in regular exercise, they can reduce their risk of heart disease and improve overall well-being.
So like I was reading this news about the new guidelines saying men need way more exercise than women to prevent heart disease... I mean it's pretty wild how much difference just 250 minutes a week can make for women, compared to nearly 9 hours for men! It's crazy that we still have these general rules that don't really account for sex differences. 
It's not like men are immune to heart disease or anything! 
. I mean, my friends and I always joke about guys being able to do like 10 push-ups and call it a workout lol! But seriously, it's kinda harsh that men need way more exercise than women to avoid heart disease. Like, I get it, the science says so, but it feels like we're already getting burned out from school life 
. How about they create some sex-specific fitness classes for us? That would be lit! 
Anyway, it's great that there's finally some recognition of how women and men need different approaches to exercise. Maybe now we can start talking about more than just "get moving"...
Anyway, I'm definitely going to be putting in some extra effort to get that 530-minute workout in each week! 
Women can do 250 minutes of exercise a week and see significant results, but we're expected to do like double that because we're smaller or something? 
. Just a thought 
.
.
That way, we can all feel like we're doing something good for ourselves without feeling overwhelmed or judged. 
I mean, can't we just make some common sense about it? It's all about finding that balance and making exercise a part of your lifestyle, not some rigid rule you have to follow.
I'm just saying, let's focus on getting people moving in general, rather than creating more rules and guidelines that just end up alienating some people.
but for real tho, its amazin how much diff there is between men & women exercise wise! 
Research says we need sex-specific guidelines cuz women r generally less active & have a lower risk of heart disease. 
22% lower risk for women meetin 150min/week exercise target vs 17% lower for men. 
And women with coronary heart disease had a higher survival rate than similarly active men. 
So yeah, lets get movin ladies & make it easy for us to hit our fitness goals! 
and its not like guys are just naturally more active or anythin, no one is! 
. It just goes to show how our bodies are wired differently and need tailored approaches to thrive 
. The study's findings also got me thinking about why we often default to one-size-fits-all recommendations when it comes to exercise and health 
.
! It's no wonder women are less physically active, given these different guidelines aren't being met 
. The fact that women with existing coronary heart disease outlive active men is also a major concern 
. Experts need to get real & develop sex-specific strategies to help women optimize their cardiovascular health 
anyway im gonna go work out now lol 
. I mean, we already know women are less likely to get involved in sports and physical activities but now it's being proven that the amount of exercise they need to do is actually different from men. I'm not surprised, though - I've seen so many female friends who have to work twice as hard to maintain their fitness levels compared to their male counterparts. And it's not just about the quantity of exercise, it's also about the quality. We need more women-specific programs and guidance that take into account our unique needs and biology. It's time for a shift in how we approach women's health and physical activity. Let's get behind this and create some change 
I'm so surprised to hear that men need way more exercise than women to lower their heart disease risk! 
Shouldn't they be based on what works best for each individual, regardless of sex? 
. Its like the researchers are saying 'hey girls, you're already less active so just get moving' 
Maybe it's cuz women are naturally more active or something, but I'm not sure 
Like, we all know that men are generally more likely to be big on sports and stuff, but still, you'd think it's a no-brainer that women would need less exercise or something. And what's with 530 minutes per week for men? That's like, almost an entire day of exercising...