heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women globally, yet new research suggests current exercise guidelines may not be optimized for all-particularly women. A large-scale study analyzing data from over 85,000 participants reveals that women experience a greater reduction in heart disease risk with moderate physical activity than men, and may benefit from tailored exercise recommendations.The findings, published in *Nature Cardiovascular Research*, challenge the long-held “one size fits all” approach to preventative cardiology.
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Heart disease remains the leading cause of illness and death globally, making preventative measures crucial for public health. A new study suggests that current exercise recommendations may not be equally beneficial for men and women, and could even underestimate the benefits of physical activity for women’s heart health.
Women Lag Behind in Physical Activity Levels
Researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank, a large medical database in Great Britain, using wrist-worn activity trackers to assess the relationship between physical activity and heart disease in over 85,000 participants. The analysis revealed that 48.46% of individuals without heart disease met the recommended minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per week, compared to only 30.51% of those already diagnosed with the condition. Notably, women consistently demonstrated lower durations and intensities of physical activity than men, and were less likely to meet the recommended guidelines.
Heart Disease: Physical Activity Offers Greater Benefits for Women
“In this large prospective study using data from accelerometer-measured physical activity in over 85,000 participants,” the study authors describe, “we observed significant sex differences in the clinical benefits of physical activity on the incidence and mortality of coronary heart disease.”
Among 80,243 participants (45,986 women and 34,257 men; ages 53-69) without a prior history of heart disease, women who achieved the 150-minute weekly activity goal experienced a 22% reduction in their risk of developing heart disease, compared to a 17% reduction observed in men. Further analysis indicated that women saw a 30% risk reduction with 250 minutes of weekly exercise, while men needed to reach 530 minutes to achieve a comparable effect.
Exercise Reduces Coronary Mortality Risk More Significantly in Women Than Men
The benefits of exercise were even more pronounced when looking at mortality. Within the same group, among the 5,169 participants (1,553 women and 3,616 men) already living with heart disease, adhering to recommended activity levels was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality that was three times greater in women than in men.
The researchers suggest that “current recommendations neglect sex differences and tailored strategies could improve the prevention of coronary heart disease.” This finding builds on previous observations highlighting the need for personalized health approaches. Further research, including studies with more diverse populations, will be necessary to confirm these findings and develop truly individualized recommendations. Understanding the underlying mechanisms – differences in fat distribution, the protective effects of estrogen, or variations in fat metabolism – remains a key area for investigation.
Note: Despite the uniform approach to physical activity recommendations for both sexes, a significant disparity is well-documented, with men generally exhibiting greater physical capacity than women. Globally, the prevalence of insufficient physical activity is higher in women compared to men (33.8% versus 28.7%).
In France, in 2021, 72.9% of men and 59.3% of women aged 18 to 85 met the recommended levels of physical activity.
* Coronary heart disease encompasses conditions resulting from the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. The primary cause is atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fat deposits and plaques in the artery walls, which can lead to angina (chest pain), heart attack, or heart failure.
Source: Chen, J., Wang, Y., Zhong, Z. et al. Sex differences in the association of wearable accelerometer-derived physical activity with coronary heart disease incidence and mortality. Nat Cardiovasc Res (2025); Virani, S. S. et al. 2023 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline for the management of patients with chronic coronary disease: a report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation 148, e9–e119 (2023); Strain, T. et al. Lancet Glob. Health 12, e1232–e1243 (2024); Prévalences nationales et régionales de l’activité physique et de la sédentarité des adultes en France : résultats du Baromètre de Santé publique France 2021 N° 12 – 11 juin 2024
