Battle of the sexes: Health edition for adults 50+

Are men or women healthier overall?

When it comes to health, is there a clear winner between men and women? While women tend to live longer, men have their own advantages in areas like stress management and exercise. But who really comes out on top? Let’s break it down.

Why women visit doctors more than men

Women outlive men, but much of men’s health struggles stem from preventable issues linked to behavior rather than biology. Men tend to avoid doctor visits, citing inconvenience and outdated notions of masculinity.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), men disproportionately suffer from preventable conditions and die an average of five years younger than women. The American Foreign Service Protective Association (AFSPA) website cites a survey  that reports:

• 65% of men avoided seeing a doctor as long as possible.
• 20% admitted they weren’t always honest with their doctors.
• 37% had withheld information from a doctor before.

Could telehealth be the game-changer? Virtual doctor visits provide:

• Comfort of being at home.
• More flexibility with scheduling.
• A less intimidating experience.

Saturday Night Live (SNL) did a skit where they proposed making doctor’s visits more like being on a podcast. While this was obviously poking fun at the issue, maybe they’re on to something. I’m not really suggesting turning your visit to the doctor into a podcast, but making it more relaxed, less formal, cold and clinical feeling could surely be beneficial.

SCORE: +1 Women

Who handles stress better: men or women?

Medical News Today reports that the American Heart Association states that men suffer from heart attacks at any earlier age than women. (on average, age 65.6 versus 72). But is this due to stress? Sort of. An April 2024 MedStar Health article explains. Because men have higher levels of testosterone, they’re more likely to experience difficulty managing anger. This, in turn, is a risk factor. Studies show that heart attack risk increases by five times in the two hours after an angry outburst.

In the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2023 “Stress in America” survey, women reported a higher average stress level than men (5.3 out of 10 versus 4.8 out of 10), more intense stress  (27% vs. 21%), and less ability to quickly recover from stress (54% vs. 65%).

In the APA’s article, Clinical Psychologist Rosalind S. Dorlen, PsyD, ABPP shares that women internalize stress, contributing to higher rates of mental and emotional disorders. Alternatively, men tend to externalize it in the form of aggression or impulsivity.

Stress can cause:

• Digestion issues
• Chronic pain
• Sleep issues
• Hormone shifts
• Decreased immune system function
• High blood pressure
• Affected mental wellbeing
• Decreased work performance

Yikes! Check out my article about travel for some stress relief. And, check out my earlier article about health trends. The bit about wearable health tracking devices may be of interest if you wish to monitor your stress and how it’s affecting your health.

SCORE: +1 Men

Do women have stronger social connections?

We know connection leads to better health, but who does it better? Pew Research (2025) reports that women communicate more frequently with friends, often through texting, phone calls, and social media. But men tend to prioritize leisure activities, which could also foster social connection.

A 2024 Gender Equity Policy Institute study found that men spend more time socializing, watching sports, and playing video games, while women have 13% less free time due to responsibilities like childcare and housework. The Bureau of Labor’s 2023 report breaks things down further. On average, they found that the time men spend participating in leisurely activities adds up to nearly an hour per day more than women.

Why does this matter? Both Psychology Today and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee report a benefit of leisure being less stress. Participants in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee study reported feeling 30% less stressed when engaged in a leisurely activity. And, their heart rate was lower, lasting up to 2 hours after the activity ended.

Since both socialization and relaxation are crucial for wellbeing, we’ll call this one a draw.

SCORE: Tie

Who is more proactive about preventing disease?

• Alzheimer’s Disease: Almost twice as common in women.
• Skin Cancer: Women are nearly twice as likely to wear sunscreen. Men are more likely to develop skin cancer.
• Lung Cancer: More men smoke (13.1% vs. 10.1% of women).
• Screenings:
  • 60% of women skip annual mammograms.
  • Nearly two-thirds of men aged 55-69 skip prostate screenings.
  • Many men are misinformed about when and how they should get screened.

The American Cancer Society recommends men of average risk get an exam at age 50. African American men and men with a family history are at greater risk and should start at age 40. And, there’s new information about what method is best.  Renal and Urology News reports that in recent years, it was found that rectal exams aren’t as effective at diagnosing prostate cancer as was once thought. Instead, a blood test, known as prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is more effective. In 2021, 37% of men aged 55-69 had this blood test.

SCORE: +1 Women

Diet habits: do women eat healthier than men?

A Feb. 2024 Frontiers journal article states,  women tend to make healthier dietary choices, often opting for fruits as snacks, whereas men gravitate more toward unhealthy options such as sweets and savories.

SCORE: +1 Women

Exercise: who moves more?

According to the Center for Disease Control CDC (2020), men exercise more, with 28.3% meeting fitness guidelines compared to 20.4% of women.

But here’s a twist: A 2024 Journal of the American College of Cardiology study found that women get the same health benefits from half the exercise men need. Men max out benefits at five hours of moderate to vigorous activity per week, while women reach the same advantage at just two hours and 20 minutes.

Men also engage in sports more often, with 35% reporting playing a sport in the past year versus 16% of women. Among seniors, men (32%) are three times as likely to play sports as women (9%).

SCORE: +1 Men

Final health score: who comes out on top?

Men: 2 (Winning at stress management and exercise)
Women: 3 (Winning at prevention and diet)
Tie: 1 (Social connection)

Supporting each other for better health outcomes

Rather than competing, what if we took notes from each other?

• Stress Management: Women can prioritize leisure time and ask for help with responsibilities.
• Exercise: Women can carve out more time for fitness, guilt-free.
• Prevention: Men can break the stigma around doctor visits and prioritize screenings.
• Diet: Men can incorporate more fruits and veggies into their meals without sacrificing taste.
• Connection: Women can encourage men to reach out to friends more, while men can encourage women to embrace downtime.

The bottom line

Men and women each have their strengths, but ultimately, supporting each other is the key to a healthier, longer life. Maybe that means planning meals together, exercising as a duo, or simply making time for shared hobbies.

Want more tips on health and wellbeing? Check out my other articles on stress relief through travel and navigating sexual health in midlife. Because when it comes to living our best lives, we’re all in this together.