Women gain heart protection with far less exercise than men
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- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
It’s well understood that increasing activity lowers the risk of developing heart disease. But achieving that benefit may take far less exercise for women than it does for men, according to an analysis published online Oct. 27, 2025, by Nature Cardiovascular Research.
Researchers assessed 80,243 adults (average age 62, 57% women) without diagnosed heart disease, as well as 5,169 adults (average age 67, 30% women) who already had heart disease. All wore an activity tracker for nearly three years to measure their exercise levels. The researchers then tracked participants for about eight more years to see who developed heart disease in the healthy group and who died in the heart disease group, comparing outcomes in women and men.
Women who exercised at a moderate-to-vigorous level for 150 minutes or more per week had a 22% lower risk of heart disease than women who didn’t, while men had a 17% lower risk of heart disease at the same exercise threshold. To achieve a 30% reduction in heart disease risk, women needed about 250 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous movement, while men needed 530 minutes.
A similar pattern emerged among participants who already had heart disease: women gained a survival benefit at lower levels of activity than men.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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