05/04/2026
To kick off Women’s Health Month, let’s go over some recent studies and statistics!
1. In 2024, the leading causes of death for women was heart disease, cancer, & stroke.
2. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that from 2021 to 2023, 41.3% of women 20 years of age or older were obese. They also found that 44.6% of women 18 years of age or older had high blood pressure or were taking high blood pressure medication.
3. The 2020, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) found that only 20.4% of women in the US met the guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises. Aerobic guidelines are 5 hours/week of moderate intensity exercise. Muscle strengthening guidelines include moderate movement of all major muscle groups at least 2x/week.
4. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, responsible for the death of 1 in every 5 women.
5. 1 in 5 women are at risk for Alzheimer’s Disease.
6. Autoimmune disease affects 25-31 million Americans, 80% of whom are women.
7. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women; however, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women.
8. According to the Center Forward, the US is currently ranked as one of the most challenged industrialized countries in the world for maternal health. The current maternal mortality rate, according to the CDC, is 18.6 deaths per 100,000 births, and black mothers face a mortality rate 3.5x higher than white women.