Report Reveals Gender Inequality Impacting Women’s Fitness Levels Compared to Men
The gender gap in fitness levels is widening as women are falling behind men, a new report from Nuffield Health has revealed. Despite an overall increase in physical activity among Britons, women are reporting that their fitness has actually worsened over the past year.
According to the fourth annual Healthier Nation Index, 31% of women said their physical fitness has improved compared to 33% who said it has worsened. In contrast, men reported an improvement in their fitness levels, with 38% reporting improvement against 26% who said it has worsened.
The report also found that more than half of women (54.5%) are dropping out or stopping exercise completely, citing barriers such as time pressures, low self-confidence, the cost of gym memberships, and not feeling sporty enough.
Young people are also facing barriers to exercise, with negative body confidence and the high cost of gyms being the main obstacles for this demographic.
Despite the increase in overall physical activity, almost three in four people are still not meeting the NHS-recommended target of 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week. This lack of exercise is having a negative impact on both physical and mental health, with record numbers of people out of work due to long-term sickness.
Nuffield Health is calling for a National Movement Strategy to increase public activity levels and embed movement into every aspect of society. Dr. Davina Deniszczyc, Nuffield Health medical and charity director, emphasized the importance of prioritizing movement to prevent and treat long-term conditions.
Former athlete and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, an ambassador for the charity, highlighted the benefits of movement for both body and mind. She stressed the importance of finding enjoyable and manageable forms of physical activity to increase motivation and make exercise a habit.
As the gender gap in fitness levels continues to widen, it is crucial for individuals and policymakers to prioritize movement and find ways to incorporate exercise into daily life for better physical and mental well-being.
