Have you ever thought about how gender influences your health and well-being? Among the many factors that play a role, physical activity stands out as a major contributor.
So, which gender do you think tends to be more active— males or females?
You probably guessed males, and you’d be correct! But have you ever considered why that is?
HOW ACTIVE ARE MEN COMPARED TO WOMEN?
In summary, only about 40% of Australian women are active enough, compared to 50% of men. This pattern is common across most countries and is known as the ‘physical activity gender gap.’
We all understand that not getting enough exercise increases the risk of various diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Regular physical activity can boost mental and musculoskeletal health while lowering risks like obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. So, it’s not surprising that women, who generally engage in less physical activity, are more likely to face multiple chronic health issues over their lifetimes compared to men.
HOW CAN WE BRIDGE THE GAP?
Closing the physical activity gender gap is challenging. This issue is deeply rooted in history and is intertwined with the complex idea of gender norms.
When children are exposed to rigid gender norms, values, and expectations, it can lead to a lack of enjoyment and confidence in physical activities and their bodies. This is evident in how boys often engage in more physically demanding activities during school breaks compared to girls.
Unfortunately, these gender norms persist beyond school and into adulthood. The danger of these norms in the context of physical activity is that they create lifelong barriers to exercise and movement.
BARRIERS FOR WOMEN
For many adolescent girls, common barriers to physical activity include low self-confidence, worries about appearance, lack of energy, and time constraints. These perceived obstacles are more prevalent among young women than men. Additionally, the number of these barriers can significantly impact whether someone meets recommended physical activity levels.
This helps explain why young girls are generally less active than boys and tend to fall short of the recommended physical activity guidelines by the age of 13—two years earlier than boys. This cycle of gender norms leading to barriers perpetuates health and well-being inequalities for women throughout their lives.
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS TOO
To complicate matters further, as adolescent girls face these barriers to physical activity, they also experience a rise in depressive symptoms. Since 2012, twice as many girls aged 15 to 19 have reported psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, compared to boys of the same age. Unfortunately, these numbers continue to climb. Given what we know about the mental health benefits of physical activity, adolescence is a crucial time when girls should be active, not sedentary. It’s a critical period for intervention.
HOW CAN WE ENCOURAGE MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG GIRLS?
Research shows that interventions designed to promote physical activity among young girls are effective, particularly those that are multi-faceted and include physical education tailored to girls’ specific needs.
Exercise professionals have an important role in making this happen.
It’s essential to create programs that educate young women about the importance of physical activity for their physical and mental health and well-being, while also providing a safe environment to put these lessons into practice. By improving access to such programs, we can positively impact the lives of young women.
