In a groundbreaking study published on February 19th in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), researchers unveiled a remarkable revelation: women gain greater health benefits from exercise in nearly half the time compared to men. Not only do women receive superior benefits, but they also experience a lower risk of premature death for the same volume of exercise.
The study, led by Hongwei Ji, MD, and his team, conducted a comprehensive analysis of 412,413 U.S. adults over a span of 22 years. The participants, with a mean age of 43.9 years, reported their physical activity levels from 1997 to 2019 through the National Health Interview Survey. The findings shed light on the profound impact of exercise on longevity and overall health, particularly for women. Key findings from the study include: 1. Accelerated Benefits for Women: Women engaging in aerobic exercise were found to be 24% less likely to die from any cause and 36% less likely to die from cardiovascular events compared to their male counterparts. 2. Reduced Risk of Premature Death: Women required only 140 minutes of moderate weekly exercise to achieve an 18% reduced risk of premature death, whereas men needed 300 minutes. Similarly, with just 57 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, women gained a 19% reduced risk of premature death, whereas men required 110 minutes. 3. Strength Training Benefits: Weekly strength training significantly reduced the risk of all-cause death by 19% for women and 11% for men. Moreover, cardiovascular-related death risk decreased by 30% in women and 11% in men. The study also highlighted a concerning disparity in exercise participation between genders. While 43% of men engaged in weekly exercise and 28% in strength training, only 33% of women engaged in weekly exercise and 20% in strength training. This imbalance underscores the importance of reshaping exercise recommendations and encouraging more women to prioritize physical activity. In an accompanying editorial comment, Wael A. Jaber, MD, FACC, and Erika Hutt, MD, emphasized the significance of these findings in influencing sex-specific exercise guidelines. They noted that the study’s outcomes could motivate physically inactive women to embrace leisure-time physical activity, thus breaking down barriers to exercise. Dr. Susan Cheng, senior author of the study from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, emphasized the accessibility of exercise benefits for women. She highlighted that even a modest amount of regular exercise, such as 20-30 minutes of vigorous exercise a few times each week, can yield substantial health gains. As we absorb the implications of this groundbreaking research, it’s clear that exercise holds the key to unlocking a healthier, longer life—particularly for women. Let’s harness the power of physical activity to empower individuals of all genders to prioritize their health and well-being.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
ABOUT THE BLOGRead on for fitness and wellness tips, community features and more! Archives
March 2024
Categories |