Exercise for Women: More than Weight Loss.
During Women’s History Month it’s important to acknowledge the impact society has had on women’s self-image and health. Societal pressures towards women often create internalized desires of a particular body image with no regards to true health. In fact, women in the US reported having the highest levels of thin-ideal thoughts alongside peer pressure influence when compared to other countries like England, Australia and Italy. This desire for body image often drives women towards disordered eating and an unhealthy relationship with exercising.
The difficulty with making weight a measure of success during your fitness journey is that weight fluctuates every single day, your body composition changes as you exercise, and a number on the scale does not determine how healthy you are. While maintaining a healthy weight is a significant aspect of overall well-being, making it the sole reason why you choose to exercise is a slippery slope. Working out to lose weight and appear “more attractive” is shown to be associated with a lower quality of life (dissatisfaction with health, self-esteem, relationships) than if the reason for exercise was to improve mood and overall health.
There are so many other benefits of exercise, especially for women, that are not weight-centric:
Regulation of hormones during menstruation through endorphin, the “feel good” hormone, release.
Strength training promotes bone health, reducing risk of fractures that can lead to disability – women are more vulnerable than men to develop osteoporosis as they age.
Women who exercise regularly have a significantly lower risk of an early death or fatal cardiovascular event than men who exercise regularly.
Exercising can help reduce the symptoms of depression - women are more likely to be depressed than men.
Regular physical activity has been shown to improve feelings of self-worth and confidence.
Allow these amazing health benefits to empower you to rethink your fitness journey goals and how exercise can truly impact overall well-being and health. Reshaping your relationship with exercise or embarking on a new journey can be difficult but not impossible.