Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Study suggests men need twice the exercise of women for similar heart benefits
Imagine your body is like a car that needs fuel to run well.
For a long time, we thought everyone needed the same amount of exercise, about 150 minutes a week, to keep their hearts healthy.
But a new study looked at many people using special watches that tracked their exercise.
It found that for women, exercising around 250 minutes a week helped protect their hearts a lot.
However, men needed to exercise for much longer, about 530 minutes a week, to get the same heart protection.
Scientists think this might be because of hormones like estrogen in women, which helps burn fat for energy, and how their muscles work.
So, it seems that what's good for one person's heart might be different for another, especially between men and women.
Even though these new numbers are much higher than usual, experts still agree that exercising is super important for a healthy heart for everyone.
New research suggests global exercise recommendations for heart health may need to be gender-specific.
Women may achieve similar heart disease risk reduction with less exercise compared to men.
The study indicated women benefited from 250 minutes of weekly exercise, while men required 530 minutes for comparable heart protection.
Hormonal differences, such as estrogen's role in fat burning, and muscle composition are proposed reasons for gender disparities in exercise efficiency.
Experts note that while the study provides insights, achieving current exercise guidelines remains a challenge for many.
- Who
- Researchers and over 85,000 UK adults
- What
- A study suggesting men may need twice the exercise of women for similar heart health benefits, challenging current global fitness norms.
- When
- Research published recently, tracking participants over seven years.
- Where
- United Kingdom
- Why
- To investigate gender-specific differences in exercise benefits for preventing heart disease and reducing mortality.
Standard Guidelines
New Study Findings
Recommended Exercise Duration for Heart Health
Standard Guidelines
Current WHO guidelines recommend 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week for all adults.
New Study Findings
New research indicates men may require 530 minutes of exercise per week to achieve a 30% reduction in heart disease risk, while women may achieve similar benefits with 250 minutes.
Gender-Specific Approach
Standard Guidelines
Existing exercise guidelines do not differentiate recommendations based on gender.
New Study Findings
The study suggests a gender-specific approach, proposing women can attain comparable cardio-protective gains with less exercise due to hormonal and muscle composition differences.
Achievability of Exercise Goals
Standard Guidelines
Focusing on the current 150-minute recommendation is challenging for many due to low compliance.
New Study Findings
The higher exercise durations suggested by the study (e.g., 530 minutes for men) may be even more difficult for the general population to achieve.
- Study Journal
- Nature Cardiovascular Research
- Study Participants
- Over 85,000 UK adults
- Study Duration
- Seven years
- Women's Exercise for 30% Heart Disease Risk Reduction
- 250 minutes per week
- Men's Exercise for 30% Heart Disease Risk Reduction
- 530 minutes per week
- Current WHO Moderate Exercise Recommendation
- 150-300 minutes per week