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According to a recent study, males must engage in more than twice as much moderate-to-intense physical exercise as women in order to reduce their risk of coronary heart disease.
Researchers who analyzed data from more than 80,000 individuals in the UK Biobank found that women who engaged in moderate to vigorous physical exercise for approximately 250 minutes a week reduced their risk of heart disease by about 30%, while males required about 530 minutes.[1]
Instead of relying on self-reports, the study utilized wrist-worn accelerometers to quantify actual activity over a period of approximately 8 years.
Active women had a mortality risk reduction of almost 70% among those with pre-existing heart disease, while the corresponding reduction for men was only 19%.
Numerous additional variables, such as age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, food, sleep, and even hereditary susceptibility to heart disease, were taken into account by the researchers.
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sample size (CHD-free participants) | ~80,000 | Participants from UK Biobank wore accelerometers for 1 week |
| Baseline CHD cases | 5,169 | Participants already had coronary heart disease at baseline |
| Incident CHD events during follow-up | 3,764 | Over a median follow-up of about 8 years |
| Weekly MVPA for ~30% reduction in CHD risk (women) | ~250 min/week | Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity level for women |
| Weekly MVPA for ~30% reduction in CHD risk (men) | ~530 min/week | Men needed more than twice the exercise time |
| Mortality risk reduction among CHD patients (active women) | ~70% lower | Active women with CHD had much greater mortality benefit |
| Mortality risk reduction among CHD patients (active men) | ~19% lower | Active men with CHD had more modest mortality benefit |
Current global guidelines from organizations like the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association call for everyone to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per week. A recommendation based on a "one-size-fits-all" approach may overlook significant sex differences, according to this new study.
The authors hypothesize that women may benefit more from physical activity per minute due to biological differences, such as differences in muscle fibers that make women more responsive to physical activity or higher estrogen levels, which may increase fat burning during exercise.
Because it was an observational study, it did not demonstrate that getting more exercise reduces risk. Instead, it discovered connections.[2] The authors claim that additional research is needed to confirm these findings.
New health advice may one day emphasize "sex-tailored" exercise regimens rather than a common objective for everyone.
Despite the fact that they suggest that men may require more activity to achieve the same benefit, the findings do not imply that women ought to avoid physical activity. In fact, many women still fall short of the recommended activity levels.
The takeaway is that men may need to exercise more to protect themselves from cardiovascular disease like women do. If everyone is more aware of the differences, they may be able to set goals for physical activity that are more effective and attainable.
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