In the world of fitness, it turns out that women might have a surprising edge. Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a CMC Vellore alumnus and neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, shared an interesting insight on X about how women seem to gain greater cardiovascular protection from smaller amounts of exercise compared to men.
Referring to a recent large-scale study that tracked thousands of participants through wearable activity devices, Dr. Kumar explained that both men and women lowered their risk of heart disease when they met the standard recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. However, the findings revealed something remarkable—women achieved nearly the same, or even greater, heart benefits with shorter durations of exercise, while men required longer workout sessions to experience comparable results.
The doctor highlighted some essential takeaways from the research. First, regular movement—no matter how brief—significantly improves heart health. Women may not need to hit the exact 150-minute weekly goal to see strong cardiovascular benefits, but that benchmark remains a safe and proven target for everyone. On the other hand, men may have to exceed the minimum exercise duration for optimal heart protection, particularly if they possess other risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, or diabetes.
He further advised combining aerobic activities, like brisk walking or cycling, with strength training for well-rounded cardiovascular gains. Importantly, he reminded people that fitness plans should be tailored individually—factors like age, existing health conditions, and medical history must guide how much and how intensely one should exercise. Consulting a healthcare provider before making significant changes is crucial.
For fellow doctors and health educators, Dr. Kumar emphasized promoting at least guideline-level activity for all adults, while personalizing recommendations based on gender and cardiovascular risk profiles. Rather than fixating on exact time goals, the focus should be on building consistency and improving fitness levels gradually.
Ultimately, the study reinforces one clear truth: exercise protects every heart, but the amount required for maximum benefit might differ between women and men. The key lies in steady progress, regular movement, and a personalized approach to fitness.
Referring to a recent large-scale study that tracked thousands of participants through wearable activity devices, Dr. Kumar explained that both men and women lowered their risk of heart disease when they met the standard recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. However, the findings revealed something remarkable—women achieved nearly the same, or even greater, heart benefits with shorter durations of exercise, while men required longer workout sessions to experience comparable results.
The doctor highlighted some essential takeaways from the research. First, regular movement—no matter how brief—significantly improves heart health. Women may not need to hit the exact 150-minute weekly goal to see strong cardiovascular benefits, but that benchmark remains a safe and proven target for everyone. On the other hand, men may have to exceed the minimum exercise duration for optimal heart protection, particularly if they possess other risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, or diabetes.
Do women get more heart protection from less exercise?
— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) November 10, 2025
✅A new study found that women seem to get equal or even greater protection against heart disease from less exercise compared to men.
Using data from thousands of people wearing activity trackers, researchers found that:
1.… pic.twitter.com/3mGwxiEtAC
He further advised combining aerobic activities, like brisk walking or cycling, with strength training for well-rounded cardiovascular gains. Importantly, he reminded people that fitness plans should be tailored individually—factors like age, existing health conditions, and medical history must guide how much and how intensely one should exercise. Consulting a healthcare provider before making significant changes is crucial.
For fellow doctors and health educators, Dr. Kumar emphasized promoting at least guideline-level activity for all adults, while personalizing recommendations based on gender and cardiovascular risk profiles. Rather than fixating on exact time goals, the focus should be on building consistency and improving fitness levels gradually.
Ultimately, the study reinforces one clear truth: exercise protects every heart, but the amount required for maximum benefit might differ between women and men. The key lies in steady progress, regular movement, and a personalized approach to fitness.
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