Which statement regarding women’s average resting heart rate is accurate?

The statement that women's average resting heart rate is typically 7 to 10 beats per minute higher than men's is accurate based on physiological research. This difference is primarily attributed to various factors including body size, hormonal differences, and heart size. In general, women tend to have smaller hearts and smaller stroke volumes than men, which can result in a higher resting heart rate to maintain adequate blood flow and oxygen delivery to the body's tissues.

Understanding this difference is important for fitness professionals who design training programs, as it can influence how cardiovascular training is approached for women compared to men. Factors such as hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle can also impact heart rate, further highlighting the need to consider gender when analyzing resting heart rate data.

Other statements do not accurately represent the typical characteristics of women's resting heart rate. While heart rate can vary among individuals, the more widely accepted average indicates a consistent trend of slightly higher rates in women compared to men.