A new analysis from the UK Biobank shows clearly: physical activity benefits both sexes – but women seem to get more “health return” per minute.
In the study, over 400,000 people were followed for an average of seven years, and the researchers compared how much exercise was needed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death.
The result:
- Women who exercised 150–300 minutes per week at moderate to high intensity had up to a 25% lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Men only reached roughly the same risk reduction at about 500 minutes per week.
- For every extra “hour in the heart-rate zone,” risk fell faster in women than in men.
The researchers suggest that differences in physiology, hormones, and how blood vessels respond to exercise may explain why women’s cardiovascular systems react more strongly to physical activity.
Women turned out to be twice as efficient as men – at least when it comes to exercise… and, let’s be honest, probably not only there.
What does this mean for longevity thinking?
It reminds us that biology is not linear. The effect of the same habit can differ significantly between individuals – and between the sexes. That’s why longevity strategies need to be built on measurement, individualisation, and follow-up – not generic advice.
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