Pull-Ups: Why They Tend to Be More Challenging for Women

Pull-ups are a body-weight exercise performed by hanging from an overhead bar and pulling the chin above the bar. Professor Leigh Breen, a muscle-physiology specialist at the University of Leicester, explains that the movement primarily engages the back muscles while also recruiting the arms and core. Across the general population, women on average find the exercise more difficult than men.

The Guardian

Breen cites three main reasons for the disparity. First, women typically possess a smaller proportion of upper-body muscle mass, which limits the force they can generate for the upward pull. Second, a slightly higher body-fat percentage means a greater portion of total body weight must be lifted, reducing the strength-to-weight ratio. Third, anatomical differences—such as narrower shoulders and a lower centre of gravity—can make the mechanics of a pull-up less favourable for many women. These factors are statistical averages, not absolute barriers; individual variation is considerable.

The Guardian

Despite the average disadvantage, Breen emphasizes that “anyone can train and see similar levels of muscle adaptation.” Gradual strength building, assisted pull-ups with resistance bands, and complementary exercises like lat pull-downs and rows can improve the specific muscles needed. Consistent training can narrow or eliminate the gap between average male and female performance, allowing many women to achieve pull-up counts that exceed the male average.

The Guardian

• “If we take the population as a whole, doing a pull-up is typically more challenging for the average woman,” — Breen. There

The Guardian

• “Anyone can train and see similar levels of muscle adaptation,” — Prof Leigh Breen, a specialist in muscle physiology at the University of Leicester

The Guardian