Male and Female Differences in Health Benefits Derived from Physical Activity: Implications for Exercise Prescription

Abstract

Males are consistently reported as more physically active than females regardless of age or measure. Often, this difference results in females identified as under active and at risk of longterm poor health outcomes. In this paper a different perspective drawing on evidence from many sources is offered. Males and females gain different health benefits according to the level, mode and intensity of the physical activity. Some potential ramifications of these gender differences in health benefits are evident in the prevalence of hypokinetic diseases across the life span and the interpretation of measured physical activity levels and intensities. By focusing on these differences, this papers highlights the need to take a more divergent view of what exercise really means, and how it provides health needs differently for males and females. We identified important implications for public policy and physical activity guidelines.

Do highly physically active workers die early? A systematic review with meta-analysis of data from 193 696 participants

“…Moreover, the differences in jobs performed by men and women may bring along a different set of (socioeconomic and associated lifestyle) factors, possibly explaining the gender differences found in our study. Finally, as it has been shown that men and women respond differently to cardiovascular risk factors,78 including PA,33 a different response to occupational PA by gender is possible.…”

“…HRs with 95% CI were reported, depicting individual study and pooled associations of high (compared with low) level occupational PA with all-cause mortality in forest plots. Due to apparent gender differences in occupational PA levels32 and physiological responses to PA,33 analyses were stratified by gender (as stipulated in our a priori registered protocol26). Funnel plots were generated to assess publication bias 34.…”

Associação Da Atividade Física De Lazer E Do Deslocamento Ocupacional Com a Caminhada E O Ciclismo: Um Estudo Transversal Com Brasileiros Adultos

“…O estímulo promotor de marcha e de ciclismo para as mulheres pode ser uma estratégia de sucesso para diminuir as diferenças de prevalência de AF entre os sexos, desfavorável a favor das mulheres. 9,10 . A inatividade física feminina é uma preocupação que, embora seja apenas uma peça em um quadro complexo, pode estar contribuindo para o aumento das condições adversas à saúde das mulheres.…”

Factors Contributing to Australian Adolescents’ Self-Report of Their Motor Skill Competence

“…There is some evidence that females receive health benefits from lighter physical activity and do not require the same intensity and amount of physical activity compared to males (Hands, Parker, Larkin, Cantell, & Rose, 2016), and are often less motivated to participate (Labbrozzi et al, 2013). Other studies have also suggested that perceived competence plays a role in engagement of physical activity (Ferrer-Caja & Weiss, 2000;Sollerhed et al, 2008), therefore girls may choose to participate less due to feelings of poor competency in physical activity tasks and place less value on sports participation (Fredricks & Eccles, 2005;Slater & Tiggemann, 2011).…”