What you probably already know: Regular exercise is a powerful weapon in the fight against coronary heart disease, but how much you need may depend on your sex. A new study suggests women require about half as much exercise as men to achieve the same protection against coronary heart disease. The study, which analyzed data from more than 85,000 people in the UK, found that women who clocked about 250 minutes of moderate exercise each week lowered their risk by about 30%, while men needed to work out for 530 minutes to see similar results. Meeting the American Heart Association’s sex-neutral weekly exercise target (150 minutes of moderate-intense activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, combined with muscle-strengthening activities) led to a 22% reduced risk of developing heart disease for women, compared to 17% for men. Researchers also found a dramatic disparity in the risk of death for those who already had coronary heart disease: The risk was three times lower for women who met the AHA’s guidelines compared to similarly active men.
Why it matters: “Decades of research have shown that sex differences in cardiovascular disease are wide-reaching,” says Dr. Emily Lau, director of women’s heart health at the Massachusetts General Heart and Vascular Institute. “Yet, most prevention and treatment guidelines still take a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, assuming that men and women are fundamentally the same.” While cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for all people in the United States, social and cultural gender gaps have led to disparities in care, largely due to a lack of awareness among women and because they aren’t well represented in clinical trials.
What it means: Exercise is clearly an important factor in heart health across the board, but the study highlights the need for updated exercise guidelines and medical strategies that lead to the best possible outcomes for women. This is especially important because women are, on average, less physically active than men and less likely to meet recommended targets for many reasons, including disproportionate caregiving responsibilities. The apparent silver lining is that women have the physical advantage of needing less exercise than men to obtain the same levels of protection against coronary heart disease. Experts aren’t sure exactly why this is, but differences in sex hormones, muscle structure and how sugar is converted into energy could be contributing factors.
What happens next: The study authors say their findings could encourage women to be more active, and they express hope in the rising popularity of wrist-worn fitness trackers. Additional research is needed, though, to better understand how physical activity impacts diverse populations. “How these findings translate to a diverse cohort is an important question, particularly as socioeconomically deprived and minority populations experience the lowest levels of physical activity and the worst cardiovascular outcomes,” says Lau, who adds that the intersection of menopause, heart health and physical activity also needs to be explored since the risk of cardiovascular disease increases post-menopause.
— Story by Cambrie Juarez
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