Photo: Corbis

Listen up, ladies. It seems the boys are kicking our collective butt at the gym. According to a new study to be published in the October issue of the American Journal of Public Health, young women in their 20s consistently exercise less than young men.

The study assessed how certain socioeconomic differences, such as gender, race and ethnicity, may play a part in a person's propensity to exercise. Researchers found that the frequency of exercising was consistently lower among young adult women than young adult men over a 23-year period. In addition, they also determined that black women were less likely to keep up with their workout frequency compared to women who were white, Hispanic or from other racial and ethnic groups.

The biggest takeaway from this study is that women need to step up their exercise game if they want to remain healthy as they age.

"Establishing healthy habits in our 20s is critical," says Pete McCall, spokesman for the American Council on Exercise and certified strength and conditioning specialist. "[You need to] take ownership of your own healthcare as a preventative healthcare program."

Regardless of your gender or race, getting in the habit of exercising at least 30 minutes a day is crucial in preventing certain diseases as you age. For example, being in good cardiovascular health is a key step in preventing heart disease, which is the No. 1 cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the CDC.

Plus, after age 30, women may lose from 1 to 2 pounds of lean muscle every decade, so they really should be turning up their exercise regimens, not slowing down. Women also begin to lose bone mineral density, notes McCall. In order to keep bone density up and stave off osteoporosis, which affects women more than men, women need to get in the habit of doing weight-bearing activities, such as strength training, jumping rope or even walking.

"Thirty to 40 minutes of walking is enough to meet the minimal needs," says McCall. So if you're a woman -- no matter what your age -- think of the fall as a way to get back in gear. You may have worked out hard all summer long, or maybe you just relaxed on the beach. Either way, keep it up or get going.

Miss those barefoot runs on the beach? The new Nike Free 5.0 may be just the thing for you.