ExerciseNZ to celebrate role of women in fitness on International Women’s Day

In advance of tomorrow’s International Women’s Day, the Exercise Association of New Zealand (ExerciseNZ) has revealed that while globally the nation has a poor physical activity statistic rating, the country’s women commit to exercise more than men in many age groups.

ExerciseNZ Chief Executive Richard Beddie sees that women are more focused on fitness than men, with 54% of gym members being women and 60% of the industry’s exercise professionals being women.

Beddie explains “exercising in traditional places such as the gym and classes, women not only have much higher membership uptake, but also take part in more activities per week.

“One area that does need work and something that ExerciseNZ and the government agency Sport NZ agree on, is the drop off in physical activity levels among teenage girls.

“This is now happening earlier and more significantly than with boys. This is an area we need more focus on, as keeping active through teenage and young adult phases is critical to having a healthy and positive attitude towards moving one’s body.”

International Women’s Day on 8th March was set up 107 years ago to help nations worldwide eliminate discrimination against women. It also focused on helping women gain full and equal participation in global development.

With gender equality essential for economies and communities to thrive. Beddie says women are naturally more fit than men, according to a Canadian study from the University of Waterloo.

Advising that the study found women consistently outperformed men with around 30% faster oxygen handling throughout the body, Beddie added “oxygen uptake is a key indicator of fitness, and the women adjusted to the rate of exercise after 30 seconds, while men took 12 seconds longer, equating to a 30% difference in oxygen processing - a direct advantage when it comes to fitness.”

Beddie also cites that the study's researchers found that the female participants were more efficient at transporting oxygen to muscle tissues throughout the body.