|
|
|
|
Benefits
of Exercise for Women
When it comes to exercise, women always seem to find excuses not to get to the gym. There is always some other engagement or a lack of time that take priority over a woman’s physical fitness goals. While most women know that they should exercise and that it is good for the heart, often this is not enough incentive to work-out. While there are a myriad of reasons why someone may not follow through with exercise plans, perhaps one major reason is simply lack of knowledge. Why should I exercise and how is exercise good for my heart, are questions that need to be answered. Once these questions are answered, perhaps the trip to the gym may seem less of a hassle and more of a duty to oneself. Many studies have shown that women have different psychological and social mediators of physical activity participation than men do.1 These mediators include housework, childcare responsibilities, and female gender roles that can decrease participation in physical activity.2 More frequently than men, women report having barriers to exercise and less control over their decision to exercise.3 Women also report being able to find little time for themselves in already overbooked schedules.4 As women age, participation in physical activity decreases.5 Historically, women have been discouraged from participation in athletics. It is only since the advent of Title IX, the 1972 educational amendment that prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex in organizations receiving federal aid, that females have had widespread opportunities to participate in school sports.4 Even after the amendment was passed, however, the regulations did not go into effect for two years, and enforcement was lacking. Since the early 1990s, hundreds of civil rights complaints and lawsuits have been filed against colleges and schools, and most of these gender discrimination suits have been resolved in favor of women. These cases have resulted in women’s coaches receiving equal pay, women’s teams being reinstated instead of cut, and women’s club sports being upgraded to varsity status.6 In 1971, fewer than 300,000 high school girls played interscholastic sports; in 1993, that number had jumped to two million.7 Boys’ numbers declined from 3.7 to 3.4 million between 1971 and 1993.5 Thus, it is little wonder that physical inactivity is more prevalent among women than men.8 However, numerous studies have shown the risks of inactivity, especially for women. Sedentary women have increased risks for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, colon cancer, and depression.8 Lack of exercise has also contributed to the obesity epidemic in this country. In the United States, 64.5 million women (61.9 percent) are overweight, and 34.7 million (33.4%) are obese (BMI≥30). Only 35.3% of U.S. women are at a healthy weight (18.5≤BMI≥25).9 According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, cardiovascular disease is currently the leading killer of women causing almost half a million deaths due to heart disease each year. 10 Although heart attacks usually occur later in life for women (leading killer of women by 65 years of age versus 45 years for men), they are much more deadly than in men.11 In a 2003 article in The American College of Sports Medicine journal, it was suggested that physical activity “should be targeted for promotion” of cardiovascular health. Indeed, it has been shown that physical activity reduces the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by about half.11 In the past few years many studies have set out to discover the benefits of exercise, not only for the heart, but for all facets of a woman’s health. Some of the more interesting and motivational facts are listed below:
This list is given in hopes that one of these facts will inspire readers to begin some sort of physical activity. In upcoming articles, we plan to discuss different aspects of health and fitness for women: how to get started, establishing a work-out regimen, staying motivated, and much more. Until then, in the words of Tamara Stein, Ph.D., don’t just do it, …do it now! …while you study …while you play. Take the stairs! References:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
© Copyright 2005-2009 University of
Michigan Board of Regents and MedFitness Group |