Study: Women Gain Twice the Heart Protection from Exercise Compared to Men

A new British study has found that exercise provides greater cardiovascular benefits for women than for men, with women gaining double the protection while exercising for half the time.

The research, which analyzed data from over 85,000 participants, showed that four hours of moderate to vigorous exercise per week lowers women’s risk of coronary heart disease by 30%, whereas men need about nine hours per week to achieve the same benefit.

Researchers attribute this difference to biological factors, including the influence of the estrogen hormone and variations in muscle fiber composition between sexes.
They emphasize, however, that regular physical activity remains essential for both men and women in protecting against cardiovascular disease.