3 min readNew DelhiMar 5, 2024 06:16 PM IST
First published on: Mar 3, 2024 at 07:02 PM IST
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology offers encouraging news for women who struggle with gym motivation. The research suggests that women need only half the amount of exercise compared to men to achieve similar longevity benefits.
Dr Martha Gulati, co-author of the study and director of preventive cardiology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, highlighted this positive message for women: “A little goes a long way.”
The study found that men who engaged in roughly 300 minutes of aerobic exercise per week experienced an 18 per cent lower risk of death compared to inactive men. However, for women, only 140 minutes of weekly exercise yielded an equivalent benefit, with a 24 per cent lower mortality risk for those reaching 300 minutes. Interestingly, the study suggests the benefits plateaued for both genders beyond 300 minutes of weekly exercise.
Similar findings emerged when analysing muscle-strengthening activities like weight training. Women who participated in a single weekly session appeared to reap the same longevity rewards as men who completed three workouts a week. Dr Gulati attributed this difference to baseline muscle mass. Since women typically have less muscle mass than men, “they may experience greater benefits with smaller doses” of strength training, Dr Gulati told Time Magazine. Additionally, other sex-based physiological variations, such as those in the lungs and cardiovascular system, might also play a role.
The researchers arrived at these conclusions by analysing self-reported exercise data from over 400,000 American adults who participated in the National Health Interview Survey between 1997 and 2017. This data was then compared with death records, with around 40,000 participants passing away during the study period.
The key lies in adapting these recommendations to individual needs and consulting with healthcare professionals for personalised advice based on one’s health status and goals. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
However, Dr Ratnakar Rao, HOD – sr. consultant joint replacements and arthroscopic surgeon, CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, Hyderabad, warned that such an assertion should be approached with caution.
“Longevity is a multifaceted outcome influenced by diverse factors such as genetics, lifestyle choices, and overall health. Reducing it to a simplistic gender-based equation overlooks the intricacies of individual health profiles,” he told indianexpress.com in an interaction.
Dr Gulati acknowledged the study’s limitations and the need for further research to solidify these findings. However, she emphasised the significance of this study, alongside others with similar conclusions. These studies highlight the crucial point that “women are not simply smaller men,” she told Time Magazine. Dr Gulati argued that research and public health policy need to consider these sex-based differences. She emphasises the historical tendency to use men as the standard, even when it might not be the most accurate approach.
Establishing a guideline for optimal exercise to enhance lifespan is a nuanced task. While the general recommendation for adults is around 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, according to Dr Rao, tailored approaches are vital. A comprehensive routine encompassing aerobic activities, strength training, and flexibility exercises contributes holistically to well-being.
The key lies in adapting these recommendations to individual needs and consulting with healthcare professionals for personalised advice based on one’s health status and goals.
Similar findings emerged when analysing muscle-strengthening activities like weight training (Source: Pexels) 
The key lies in adapting these recommendations to individual needs and consulting with healthcare professionals for personalised advice based on one’s health status and goals. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
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