Vigorous exercise study

[Tubs11]

47% of women have done no vigorous exercise in the past 12 months

This news story had irked me and feels like a women bashing exercise

Me: I haven't done vigorous exercise since pre pandemic and damn right I have no motivation or interest in doing any as I'm still knackered from having to raise and educate kids whilst working during the pandemic. Incidentally I'm the thinnest I've ever been as I didn't have time to eat!!

Anyone else annoyed by this study?

No

Are you irked by the study or the women?

Where is the link to the study?

Tbh it’s not a good thing not to exercise. I don’t need to explain the benefits but being skinny doesn’t automatically equal healthy

Why would you be "irked" by it?

Being sedentary isn't good no matter your weight, and the effects compound as you get older. Exercise also increases your energy level and overall makes you less tired.

You can do what you like with your own body, obviously, and the consequences are yours to take, but should people not study the effects of sedentary lifestyles just in case it makes people feel bad?

I am no health freak, far from it, but that's quite concerning number imho.

Was the study done only on women? Or is it that this particular statistic is the one the news has decided to run with?

(I'm guessing the later)

What are the stats on men's vigorous exercise in the last 12 months i wonder? Not that different i bet. Why concentrate on the 'women' angle then?

No I’m not annoyed by it. I am very saddened by it. The rewards of exercise reach far beyond the aesthetic.it gives incredible mental clarity and far reaching health benefits. My gym is about 95% male members. So men indulging themselves , bettering themselves, taking up space for themselves, allowing themselves time, not worrying about being judged (btw none are very fit , none work very hard, most are there for a gentle treadmill stroll).
When I tell friends I’ve been to the gym they give a look like ‘oooh get you’, or occasionally say they wish they could afford it (it’s £20 a month ) or similar.
I feel my mental state and ability to cope with life take a nose dive when I can’t do my daily workout. Anxiety is heightened, molehills become mountains. Without exercise my digestion is sluggish, I sleep badly, my skin is bad, pmt is debilitating, Peri symptoms are worse.
Proper exercise is life changing. Don’t even get me started about how amazing it is to live free from chronic back pain (another unexpected benefit of daily exercise).

Looks like it is 34% for men

amp.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/25/almost-half-british-women-no-vigorous-exercise-survey

Figures broken down here.

www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/25/almost-half-british-women-no-vigorous-exercise-survey

I wonder if the study was focused on timed exercise rather than 'activity' though?

Google has this to say:

How do you know if your activity is vigorous?
In general, if you're doing vigorous-intensity activity, you will not be able to say more than a few words without pausing for a breath

I don't do formal gym exercises but i'm definitely out of breath quite often* *😂

There is a long discussion on the Times website about this. Pointing out that women tend to make a huge thing out of "family time" and men don't, they're happy to do their four hour bike rides whereas women feel they can't do anything for themselves. Or feel guilty about spending money on themselves. See the recent parkrun thread - 9am too late for some women because it eats into family time - I mean, really? As if any man would ever think that!

Covid restrictions making it very difficult to get out and exercise, especially in certain areas of the UK and especially in the winter eg in Wales where you couldn't meet up for exercise for a good few weeks in the January lockdown. Also stupid councils closing parks etc and stupid police bullying women who met up for a walk.

And of course the fact that many women feel that they are not safe if they exercise outdoors.

Cost of living aspects too - fewer people can afford to go to the gym.

The figures will be different for men because:

(a) they are not martyrs and will still do things for themselves even though they are parents

(b) men don't get attacked when out running

(c) men are less likely to feel guilty about spending money on themselves (and tend to earn more anyway).

Seriously It makes an interesting read. Not annoyed by it OP - important social issues at play here.

I don't see that the piece has extrapolated that women are lazy, for eg.

I feel my mental state and ability to cope with life take a nose dive when I can’t do my daily workout. Anxiety is heightened, molehills become mountains. Without exercise my digestion is sluggish, I sleep badly, my skin is bad, pmt is debilitating, Peri symptoms are worse.
Proper exercise is life changing. Don’t even get me started about how amazing it is to live free from chronic back pain (another unexpected benefit of daily exercise).

Completely agree with this. I do some form of exercise daily now, even if it's just a 15 minute Pilates workout or weights.

@gatehouseoffleet exactly

We should look at it from the angle of how very sad it is that 50% of women in the study don’t feel themselves worthy enough to take 30minutes a day to protect their health. Why is this?

Yes, the harassment (and even physical attacks!) I've read about on here have been disheartening.

Though also a minority people peddling the myth of 'runners face' and advising people to actually give up running and do something else. That's been in style and beauty mainly.

It is sad, and a concern.

I think it's useful to know that women aren't getting the exercise then need and consider the barriers to them getting it?

Since having children I find it really hard to exercise. I'm mentally tired, don't get enough sleep, and there's no one to take the kids. So I do a bit of yoga with a toddler sitting on me everytime I get down to the floor and whining that I'm not giving them constant attention. Or I walk at reluctant four year pace while pushing the smaller child.

I liked the idea of doing some exercise class once younger child gets nursery hours, but I looked and can't afford the gym. House too small to follow an exercise video (as I found with the yoga). In my old house I went out by bike but the roads are lethal here. Guess I can run?

The thing is that you don't even need to spend money on gum, or go outside. You can very easily get good heart pumping exercise at home for free. I think it's something like 10 min a day is supposed to be very beneficial for cardiovascular system. So even little can do a lot.

What?! Are you 53% of all women? This is an insane thread

Oh jeez....are you always this easily offended OP?

There are so many options for exercise though that if you’re doing zero vigorous exercise because men may harass you whilst running, it becomes another excuse. I don’t run outside because men DO do that. It’s frightening and demotivating. But I value my health so I exercise in other ways. My need to exercise trumps their need to stop me. I figure the problems of men won’t be solved in my lifetime, and there’s a relatively small window in my life where I’ll be fit enough to get really physically strong.

I'm irked by how it's being reported. 34% of men haven't done vigorous exercise in the time and it failed to get a mention on the radio. I get moderate exercise and eat well. I have zero time or interest for vigorous exercise at this point in my life so would fall under the 47% and I wonder how many others fall under this category

You can very easily get good heart pumping exercise at home for free.

How? I live in a small house and have not found any exercise I can do inside.