Gaining more from a workout

The latest findings published in the Journals of the American College of Cardiology reveal that women experience more significant health improvements from exercise than men, highlighting the critical importance of physical activity for women’s health.

These improvements include a substantial reduction in the risk of early death, making regular exercise an essential component of a healthy lifestyle for women. While women experience greater health benefits from exercise compared to men, the latest Ministry of Health findings reveal that less than half (43.7%) of women in New Zealand meet basic physical activity guidelines.

This highlights the importance of emphasising the specific health advantages exercise offers women, including a reduced risk of early death. Promoting physical activity is, therefore, crucial for improving women’s health.

The main findings from recent research showed the following:

1. Reduced risk of early death: Women who engage in just 140 minutes of physical activity per week can lower their risk of early death by 18%. In contrast, men need more than double that amount—300 minutes per week—to achieve the same reduction.
2. Consistent benefits across exercise types: Women see greater reductions in the risk of early death from various types of exercise compared to men, regardless of the exercise’s intensity or duration.
3. Need for gender-based exercise guidelines: The study underscores the necessity for gender-specific guidelines in exercise recommendations to ensure everyone can achieve optimal health outcomes.

Numerous facilities throughout Christchurch are dedicated to helping women lead healthier lives through regular physical activity. Many gyms and fitness centres offer a wide range of programmes specifically designed to meet women’s needs, providing supportive and motivating environments, and let’s not forget that 55% of exercise professionals are female, according to ExerciseNZ.