Menstruation does not affect the level of physical activity of a woman – scientists
The physical activity of women is more predictable and stable in time than in men
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Women are much less presented in research related to sports, fitness or physical health. They are often excluded because of the beliefs that menstrual cycles make the data too variable.
But a new study of scientists at the University of California at San Diego and New York City University, Posted In the scientific edition of Journal of Medical Internet Research, it proved the opposite.
« The physical activity of women is more predictable and stable in time than in men« , » quotes Medicalxpress scientists.
The study was attended by 596 people (women and men were equal aged 20 to 79 years. The researchers used the data of the Oura fitness ring, which captures the indicators of movement, sleep and body temperature every minute.
The participants wore the device continuously within 206 days.
The analysis showed that:
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Female physical activity is less variable (prone to sharp changes) than in men;
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menstrual cycles do not affect the stability of activity;
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In some men, the activity increases sharply on the weekend, in some women decreases, but in general the changes are insignificant;
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Elderly people (both sexes) have the most predictable levels of activity.
« Our analysis does not confirm the idea that gender, age or presence of the menstrual cycle should be the basis for exclusion from physical activity studies »– the authors say.
