Some concerning research has shown that women are exercising less than men.

You may have heard that this has become known as the “Gender Gap”. The gender
gap is more obvious in vigorous activities, sports participation, and strength training.
Nevertheless, the difference is very noticeable at all levels of physical activity.
The more I research exercise and how women engage with it, the more I have been
seeing studies which have tried to understand and explain the reasons for the “Gap”.

What sort of things have they discovered?
First, this isn’t new. Women have always lagged behind men when it comes to
physical exercise. Sports England undertook a survey in 2021 which showed that
only 61% of women engaged in physical activity to the NHS-recommended level of
150 minutes per week, as opposed to 66% of men.
A slightly more up-to-date study by “Asics” in February 2024 discovered that 54.4% of UK women were cutting back on exercising or stopping completely. Reasons quoted include not having enough time (80%), low self-confidence (55%), the cost of gyms (65%), and not feeling ‘sporty’ enough (58%).
And even back in 2012 a survey indicated that gender differences emerge in
childhood. Only 8% of 14-year-old UK girls met the recommended daily activity vs
32% of boys.

So, the “Gender Gap” manifests itself early in life.

I suspect we all recognise that (generally) girls tend to be less enthusiastic than boys when it
comes to physical activities at school. Lack of confidence and limited enjoyment are
typically quoted as reasons.

But the distinction continues into later life. Motherhood presents many challenges to
disrupt lifestyle, such as looking after children and housework, which can
disproportionately impact women rather than men so much so that they have far less
time to take exercise. According to “Vitality” magazine (December 2024) 80% of
women say childcare commitments limit their ability to stay active. Essentially,
caregiving and household duties are considered greater priorities than personal fitness time.

There can be no doubt that single mothers and women from lower income families
find it difficult to justify spending on gym membership or home-exercise equipment,
which would account for a proportion of the non-exercising demographic.
Lifestyle and financial limitations and other commitments are not the only obstacles to more activity. Sadly, increasingly women are feeling vulnerable and exposed when going for a walk or a run, in particular concerns about risk after dark e.g. stalking and assault.

Not All Gyms Have Kept Up with the Times
Some issues which can adversely affect women’s participation in physical activity
can have their roots in (thankfully outdated and fast-shrinking) negative aspects of
“gym culture” which leads to women having concerns about their body image and
confidence when exercising. So often, when I meet new female clients, they express their trepidation about stepping in to a gym ‘full of boys’ lifting heavy weights!

It’s also true to say that many older gyms and sports facilities were designed and
built with male clientele in mind to cater for the demand AS IT USED TO BE! They are not
overly amenable to women; lacking, for example, fully adjustable machines, childcare options, or female personal trainers and coaches. (There is even a statistic which suggests that 6 out of 10 women were more active before they had children).

However, I believe there is evidence that, gradually, more and more women are stepping out, flexing their muscles and realising they too have permission to train to be fit and strong and healthy.

There is increasing participation by women in fitness, running, and strength training.
Women’s sports are gaining visibility, and more female-focused programs and safe
spaces are being created. More women’s voices are being heard, listened to and
heeded in design and development of exercise routines; sporting venues; facilities
and gyms. And the industry is beginning to recognise that when we are young, we
exercise for aesthetics; when we are middle-aged, we exercise for health and when
we are older, we exercise to improve function.
If this trend continues, for women of all ages, I believe we shall see a dramatic
change in the “width” of the Gender Gap.

Research and Acknowledgements
https://www.theflowspace.com/
https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/
https://www.abc.net.au/news/
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/