Research from the Karolinska Institutet reveals a significant correlation between gender equality, socioeconomic development, and the physical fitness of young adults. Published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science on October 23, 2025, the study emphasizes the impact of societal factors on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), a key indicator of overall health and longevity.
The comprehensive study analyzed data from 95 research articles across 24 countries, encompassing over 119,000 adult participants. Researchers assessed the relationship between CRF, the Human Development Index (HDI), and the Gender Inequality Index (GII). HDI measures factors such as education, income, and life expectancy, while GII highlights disparities between genders in health, education, and employment.
Findings indicate that individuals in countries with higher HDI levels exhibited better fitness, particularly among women. For instance, young women in countries with a medium HDI demonstrated a higher average VO2peak—31.2 mL/kg/min—compared to their counterparts in low HDI nations, who averaged only 28.5 mL/kg/min. The increase in fitness levels was less pronounced when moving from medium to high HDI.
Societal Structures and Fitness Access
Lead researcher Nicolas Pillon, from the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet, stated, “Our results suggest that societal structures impact greatly on people’s access to exercise and thus their fitness levels.” The study further reveals that higher gender equality, as indicated by a lower GII, corresponds to improved fitness levels for both women and men. Notably, young women in countries with high gender equality achieved an average VO2peak that was 6.5 mL/kg/min greater than those in nations with lower gender equality.
Co-researcher Barbara Ainsworth, from the Shanghai University of Sport, emphasized the need for societal interventions to remove barriers related to social and gender inequalities. “Our results underpin the importance of societal interventions and guidelines that reduce social and gender-related hindrances to physical exercise,” she noted. Ainsworth also highlighted the necessity for further research focusing on countries with lower HDI and the challenges faced by various ethnic and socioeconomic communities.
The research was funded through grants from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Diabetes Wellness Network Sverige. There are no reported conflicts of interest associated with this study.
This investigation into the interplay of gender equality, socioeconomic development, and fitness contributes valuable insights into public health and highlights the need for policies that foster equitable access to health resources.
