Women need to exercise and eat differently than men. Here's how

As reproductive health remains a key issue in the 2024 US presidential election, a recent executive order signed by President Joe Biden to improve women’s health research grabbed headlines. The March 18 directive aims to integrate women’s health across federal agencies and drive new research. This long-standing lack of female-based research stemming from sex and gender bias has prompted experts to emphasize the importance of studying women’s health. Women are not physiologically the same as men and have often been given incomplete and even harmful medical advice as a result. Historically, women have been underrepresented in medical literature, and misogynistic attitudes persist. However, there have been efforts to increase female representation in research, with some success. Dr. Stacy Sims, an exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist, highlights the importance of considering sex-based differences in exercise and nutrition for optimal health. She recommends that women prioritize strength or resistance training for brain health and to mitigate the impact of hormonal changes during menopause. Sims also advocates for high-intensity intervals and resistance training to improve cardiovascular health and microbiome diversity. In terms of nutrition, she emphasizes the need for adequate protein intake, especially for women and as they age. Sims believes that it is important to tailor health recommendations to specific populations, rather than blindly following trends or studies conducted primarily on men.