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No, this is not an article on that ever-popular question about whether sex counts as aerobic exercise. (It doesn't. Get over it.) This article is about gender differences in exercise and weight loss. This is your chance to get the facts you need to answer such burning questions as:
Body Shape and Bulking Up: The Testosterone Factor FACT: Most women (and many men, for that matter) will NOT build large muscles in response to weight training—especially while restricting calorie intake for weight loss. The ability to build large muscles depends mostly on levels of the male sex hormone, testosterone. Every person has some amount of both testosterone and estrogen, but the average man has 20 to 30 times more testosterone than the average woman. But even this amount is not enough to allow every man to build large muscles. The bottom line is that relatively few men, and very few women, will end up looking like bodybuilders, even with extensive weight training. The difference in testosterone levels among men and women is also responsible for gender differences in total body fat percentage and fat distribution (where the body stores fat). On average, women have 7-10% more body fat than men, and correspondingly less muscle mass. Minimum ("essential") body fat percentages are about 12% for women, and 4% for men. This difference in body composition means that men typically have higher metabolic rates and will usually need more calories (about 300 more per day) than women of comparable weights, because muscle burns more calories than fat. Men tend to be apple shaped, storing more body fat in the upper body (known as “central” fat) and within the body cavity, which is called “visceral” fat. Women tend to be pear shaped, storing more fat in the hips and thighs (known as “peripheral” fat), and beneath the layer of skin, which is called “subcutaneous” fat. This explains why women also tend to have visible cellulite more often than men. Weight Loss: Not All Fat is Created Equal FACT: Although all body fat is made of the same “stuff,” where it's stored can make a big difference in both how risky it is to your health, and in how easy it is to lose. As a general rule, visceral fat (located in the upper body cavity) represents a greater health risk, but is easier to lose than peripheral fat (located in the hips, thighs, and limbs). This is because visceral fat, which is metabolically active, is the body’s preferred energy source when fat is burned as fuel. Continued › |
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Fitness Articles › Special ConcernsGender and Weight Loss: How Your Sex Affects Your SuccessFitness and Weight Loss Differences Among Men and Women-- By Dean Anderson, Fitness & Behavior ExpertSparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more
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Dean Anderson
Dean Anderson has master's degrees in human services (behavioral psychology/stress management) and liberal studies. His interest in healthy living began at the age of 50 when he confronted his own morbid obesity and health issues. He joined SparkPeople and lost 150 pounds and regained his health. Dean has earned a personal training certification from ACE and received training as a lifestyle and weight management consultant. See all of Dean's articles. |
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Member Comments
! - 2/2/2011 3:11:55 PM
ed a lot of things up for me.
Thanks a bunch - 1/20/2010 8:15:06 AM
ed a lot of things up for me.
Thanks a bunch - 1/20/2010 8:14:58 AM