Some couples working to lose weight may notice that the man usually loses at a faster pace than the woman. What's going on? Do men really lose more weight faster or does it just appear that they do? |
The truth is, men have two major weight-loss advantages over women: One involves their body composition, which enables them to burn calories at a faster rate than women; the second revolves around the fact that men tend to be more active than their female counterparts. These two major factors—more calories burned at rest and more calories burned in activity—translates into faster weight loss for guys
1.Men Have Faster Metabolisms
Men are biologically programmed to have higher amounts of lean body mass, or muscle, than women. Lean body mass is the key factor that determines the rate of one's metabolism, the body's calorie-burning system. Since men have more muscle, their metabolisms are higher, and they burn more calories even when they're resting, so the final result is a more rapid weight loss.
Men are biologically programmed to have higher amounts of lean body mass, or muscle, than women. Lean body mass is the key factor that determines the rate of one's metabolism, the body's calorie-burning system. Since men have more muscle, their metabolisms are higher, and they burn more calories even when they're resting, so the final result is a more rapid weight loss.
How much faster are men's metabolisms than women's? Research has found that on average the metabolism of a man is 5 to 10 percent higher than that of a woman of the same weight and height.1
2.Men Are More Active
Another reason men often lose weight faster then women is that they tend to be more physically active. In fact, a study reported in the American Journal of Physiology found that women burn an average of 16 percent fewer daily calories than men.2 The researchers looked into that difference, finding that the women's resting metabolic rate was 6 percent lower than that of men (e.g., a slower metabolism) and that the calories burned in physical activity was 37 percent lower than that of men. In other words, the women were simply not moving as much as the guys so were burning fewer calories.
Another reason men often lose weight faster then women is that they tend to be more physically active. In fact, a study reported in the American Journal of Physiology found that women burn an average of 16 percent fewer daily calories than men.2 The researchers looked into that difference, finding that the women's resting metabolic rate was 6 percent lower than that of men (e.g., a slower metabolism) and that the calories burned in physical activity was 37 percent lower than that of men. In other words, the women were simply not moving as much as the guys so were burning fewer calories.
3.Women Also Have an Edge
Women do have an edge, however, over men in other critical areas of weight management. For example, women tend to be more attentive to what's going on with their weight (e.g., they know why they should work to lose weight), and are better able to make the connection between food and emotions.
Women do have an edge, however, over men in other critical areas of weight management. For example, women tend to be more attentive to what's going on with their weight (e.g., they know why they should work to lose weight), and are better able to make the connection between food and emotions.
Bottom Line - At the end of the day, the differences in terms of total weight loss between men and women are modest. Both sexes can be successful in achieving a lasting weight loss with a comprehensive lifestyle approach.
Source: Reader’s Deigest
