Another 37 percent who were occasional exercisers had moderate family support. But family members of college students often live far from campus. So family may be a weaker substitute for the on-campus peer support that the men have, said Wallace, who called for more efforts to build peer networks for women. The results of the Ohio State survey rang true for Dr. Robert E. Hunter, a clinical professor at the University of Colorado's Department of Orthopedics in Denver. It's a macho thing to be able to run faster and ski faster.
Women are as motivated and challenged to be fit as the men.
It's absolutely identical. Also, the gender gap on regular exercise grows smaller among younger generations, Hunter said. Being a female athlete is not geeky now, Hunter said. The challenge is to bring the benefits to more girls and women, Hunter said.