Researchers from a leading Chinese medical institution reported that exercise yields greater benefits for women than men when the training volume is similar. The study highlighted a meaningful drop in the risk of cardiovascular disease for women, with findings published in a respected cardiology journal.
Data were drawn from more than 400,000 American adults who participated in a long-running national health survey aimed at assessing the health and nutritional status of the U.S. population. Between 1997 and 2019, participants regularly shared details about their activity levels and the types of exercise they performed.
During the observation period, 39,935 participants died, including 11,670 deaths due to cardiovascular disease. By examining self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity—such as brisk walking, high-intensity cardio, cycling, resistance training, and other structured workouts—researchers observed that women benefited more markedly from regular activity.
In practical terms, individuals who engaged in leisure-time exercise a few times per week showed substantially lower mortality risks. Specifically, men who exercised consistently reduced their risk of death from all causes by about 24% compared with their sedentary peers, while women saw a roughly 15% reduction. To achieve an 18% lower risk of death, men needed about 300 minutes of activity per week, whereas women attained similar gains with roughly 140 minutes. These results point to meaningful sex-based differences in how exercise confers protection against premature death.
Experts suggest that anatomical and physiological differences between the sexes may partly explain why women appear to derive more benefit from given exercise volumes. For many women, the body may respond more effectively to the same effort, leading to pronounced improvements in cardiovascular and overall health metrics. This nuanced understanding underscores the importance of staying active as a daily habit, regardless of age or baseline fitness.
There are well-known heart-healthy choices that exercise alone cannot fully compensate for, underscoring the value of a comprehensive approach to heart health that includes diet, sleep, stress management, and regular medical checkups. Markers of risk can still be influenced by these factors, even when physical activity is routine and sustained. For readers seeking a fuller picture, the cited study offers evidence that sustained activity matters—and that sex-specific responses warrant attention in public health guidance, fitness planning, and clinical recommendations. The findings also reinforce the importance of tailoring activity targets to individual needs and capabilities, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all prescription.