Women may need less exercise than men to protect their hearts, according to a new study that suggests even a few hours of activity each week can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.
The research, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, found that women who engage in around four hours of physical activity per week can cut their risk of developing coronary heart disease by about 30%. Men, however, need more than twice as much exercise—nearly nine hours weekly—to achieve the same level of protection.
Coronary heart disease occurs when blood vessels supplying the heart narrow or harden, reducing blood flow. Major risk factors include poor diet, smoking, and inactivity.
Even modest amounts of exercise proved beneficial, the study showed. Just 2.5 hours of moderate to vigorous activity per week reduced the risk of coronary heart disease by 22% for women and 17% for men.
Germany’s former health minister, Karl Lauterbach, reacted to the findings with humor on the social media platform X, calling the results “unfair” given the gender difference in exercise requirements.
Exercise Benefits Extend to Those with Existing Heart Disease
The study also found that people who already have heart disease can still see major improvements through physical activity. Women who exercised moderately to vigorously for just 51 minutes per week had a reduced risk of death, while men required about 85 minutes to achieve the same survival benefit—roughly 1.7 times more.
Overall, researchers concluded that the more frequently people exercise, the lower their risk of developing or dying from heart disease, regardless of gender.
Why Women Benefit More
The study’s authors believe biological differences may explain why women respond more strongly to exercise. The female hormone oestrogen promotes fat metabolism and offers protection to blood vessels, which could enhance cardiovascular resilience.
Additionally, women tend to have a higher proportion of endurance-oriented muscle fibres, while men generally have more fibres designed for strength and speed. This physiological difference may mean that women’s hearts adapt more efficiently to regular aerobic exercise.
“These findings highlight that even moderate activity levels can make a substantial difference, particularly for women,” the study noted.
Experts stress that both men and women should aim for consistent, regular movement—whether through walking, cycling, swimming, or other physical activity. The results reinforce a growing body of evidence showing that staying active, even for a few hours each week, can be one of the most effective tools for preventing heart disease.
