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Why Women Struggle With Pull-Ups, Expert Says

8/18/2026

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Story summary
  • Prof Leigh Breen of the University of Leicester says pull-ups mainly work the back, arms and core.
  • She says women find pull-ups harder because they have less upper-body muscle mass and a higher body-fat percentage that lowers their strength-to-weight ratio.
  • She recommends assisted pull-ups with resistance bands and adding lat pull-downs or rows to build the needed muscles.