The reason is that males and females are biochemically different and are prone to different medical conditions that they may seek to avoid or treat through exercise. Also, for women fitness is more often concerned with body image and other issues linked to their role in society.
Exercise and Mood
In his book The Mars and Venus Diet and Exercise Solution (London: Macmillan, 2003), John Gray notes that 90 per cent of people who seek counseling are female. Many of these have low serotonin, a major mood-related neurotransmitter in the brain. Men with mental health issues are more likely to be suffering from low dopamine, a condition more associated with attention deficit disorder than with low mood. One of the reasons depressed women are encouraged to exercise is that it increases usable levels of serotonin in the brain.
Controversially, Gray argues that appropriate diet and fitness approaches for physical health and "emotional healing" are likely to be radically different for women and men. For example, he states that males and females respond differently to intense exercise, and that "an exercise program to assist a man in losing weight might inhibit weight loss in a woman, as well as produce food cravings".
Training for Strength
Miriam Nelson (Strong Women Stay Young. New York: Bantam, 1997) advocates high intensity strength training for women from the age of 35 to combat the loss of bone and muscle mass. She argues that serious fitness work with weights will not only reduce the risk of osteoporosis, but will improve balance and help women to deal with any body size issues.
A study led by the University of Otago in New Zealand (Dominion Post, January 10, 2009) demonstrates additional benefits of exercise for older women. The researchers followed more than 1000 women aged 40 to 74 who were prescribed activity plans and received the support of a nurse and helpline. ("Green" prescriptions, interventions that do not rely on drugs, are increasingly finding favour among medical professionals). It is believed that the risk for women over 40 of heart and lung disease, diabetes and some cancers may be reduced by physical activity.
Body Image and the Role of Women
Susan Powter (Stop the Insanity. New York, Simon and Schuster, 1993) observes the focus of many women undertaking fitness programmes on weight issues and on learning how to deal with anger, frustration and fear caused by relationship and other problems. She rejects the idea that women should learn to eat properly and exercise to improve their self-esteem. "This is about giving your body what it must have just to function every day and having your body respond with more energy [and] more strength". Referring to the social pressure on women to be attractive and "on display", Powter comments: "I see topless dancing as a very honest example of what life is really like for most women".
"Women getting well" is the focus of Powter's approach, with exercise an aspect of females "defining and planning their own lives".
Social Activism and the Jane Fonda Workout
Between 1981 and 1995, actor and social activist Jane Fonda released more than 40 exercise videos, workout books and audio programmes. Her success may have partly been the result of timing--middle-aged "baby boomers" were ripe for the fitness message, and the new technology of the video cassette recorder made learning routines at home more possible. Continuing to use current technology, Fonda now makes advice and memorabilia available on a website.
In her original Workout Book (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1981), Fonda clearly links fitness to the historical image and social role of women. Strength has been a ideal during various periods of history, such as the pioneer era and during World War 2, when women took on the factory work of absent soldiers. In the 80s, Fonda tapped into "the new female consciousness [that] extends to our right to physical as well as economic, political and social equality". She cited athletes such as Mary Decker and actor Katharine Hepburn ("the least soggy person I know") as female role models.
Fonda urged women to link their personal wellness battles with broader social issues, and in particular to call political and corporate leaders to account for workplace, health and environmental hazards. In this context a woman's activity plan could be seen not only as a way to achieve personal goals such as improved health, but as laying the ground for more involvement in the community. As Fonda observed, "We are what we do".
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