Optimum Nutrition’s Female Strength Report finds mental resilience now outweighs physical power for many women, while highlighting major gaps in education around strength training.
A new report from Optimum Nutrition suggests women across the UK are redefining what it means to be strong, with mental resilience, adaptability and everyday capability now viewed as just as important—if not more important—than physical performance.
The STRONG: The Female Strength Report, based on research involving 2,000 women in Britain and co-authored by Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale, explores how perceptions of strength have evolved in 2026 and identifies opportunities to improve education, fitness culture and nutritional support for women.
Mental Strength Is Now a Priority
While 45% of respondents still associate strength with physical power, nearly half (47%) said mental resilience is the greatest contributor to how strong they feel overall.
The research also found:
- 59% value mental strength over physical appearance or athletic performance.
- 79% believe their definition of strength changes throughout different stages of life.
- 59% say confidently managing everyday life is a more meaningful measure of strength than lifting the heaviest weights.
Rather than focusing solely on gym performance, women increasingly define strength through their ability to handle the demands of everyday life.
Everyday Challenges Matter More Than Gym Achievements
When participants were asked what had tested their strength most during the previous month, relatively few pointed to exercise.
Instead:
- 24% said maintaining routines while exhausted.
- 19% cited balancing multiple responsibilities.
- 17% highlighted navigating emotionally difficult situations.
- Only 8% chose completing a workout.
The findings suggest that resilience, consistency and adaptability have become central to how many women measure personal strength.
Knowledge Gap Around Strength Training
Although awareness of women’s health and hormonal wellbeing continues to grow, the report highlights a significant gap between understanding and action.
According to the research:
- 86% recognise hormonal fluctuations can affect physical and mental strength.
- Just 10% regularly adapt their nutrition or training accordingly.
- 41% make no adjustments at all.
- 66% are unaware of current NHS muscle-strengthening recommendations.
Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale, a leading expert in female physiology and endocrinology, said the findings demonstrate the importance of combining scientific research with women’s lived experiences to improve education, products and support throughout adulthood.
Practical Barriers Still Prevent Women From Training
The report found that motivation isn’t the primary obstacle to building strength.
Instead, women identified practical challenges including:
- Lack of time (28%)
- Lack of energy (26%)
- Not knowing where to begin (25%)
Many respondents also feel the fitness industry still presents a limited picture of what strength looks like.
- 57% believe fitness advertising focuses too narrowly on strength.
- 68% think functional strength remains underrepresented in fitness culture.
These findings echo wider conversations across the health and fitness sector about improving female-focused research and encouraging more inclusive approaches to training. Recent research has also linked regular strength training with improved long-term cardiovascular health in women.
Olympic and Paralympic Athletes Back Broader Definition of Strength
Olympic weightlifter Emily Campbell welcomed the report, saying strength means different things to different people and that recognising those differences is essential for athletes, coaches, brands and communities alike.
Paralympic swimming champion Alice Tai OBE also contributed to the report, describing strength as the ability to adapt, recover and find your own rhythm through life’s different stages, rather than fitting a single ideal.
Optimum Nutrition Continues Female Strength Initiative
Alongside the publication of the report, Optimum Nutrition says it will continue investing in evidence-based sports nutrition, including products such as its Clear Whey Protein range, designed to support recovery and everyday performance.
Readers interested in learning more can explore the full STRONG: The Female Strength Report and additional resources via the official Optimum Nutrition website. Optimum Nutrition Female Strength Report
