Recent research indicates that physical activity and exercise could reverse the damage to the physical health of individuals in their middle age, particularly benefiting women.
A study conducted by the University of Sydney, which followed over 11,000 Australian women, found that engaging in at least 150 minutes of physical activity weekly during midlife plays a pivotal role in maintaining health.
Research
The findings, released in PLOS Medicine, demonstrated that women aged 40 to 50 who maintained consistent physical activity over 15 years exhibited superior physical health scores compared to those who were inactive.
Individuals who hadn’t regularly engaged in exercise prior to reaching middle age also reaped health benefits from adopting a rigorous physical routine.
Further research is necessary to determine whether these physical advantages are also applicable to middle-aged men. With researchers positing that men could enjoy similar benefits.
The study authors suggest that the effects of early-life inactivity can potentially be offset by engaging in physical activity during middle age.
Fascinatingly, the study reveals that beginning an exercise regimen at 60 does not yield the same beneficial outcomes as initiating one at 50.
Research from the Smidt Heart Institute in California reveals that women can achieve the same cardiovascular benefits as men with less exercise, highlighting a significant gender difference in physical health optimization.
As reported by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Studies indicate that to attain the same health benefits as men who engage in five hours of it, women require approximately two and a half hours of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise weekly.
