Why Do Men Tend to Lose Weight Faster Than Women?

Have you noticed that when a man and a woman go on the same diet, he tends to drop pounds faster and lose more weight? It’s frustrating and unfair, but a common occurrence thanks to biological differences.

Our caring specialists at Premiere Medical Center understand the different challenges faced by women and men as they work to lose weight. We create tailored weight loss plans and offer today’s most innovative medicines to support all our patients.

Here, we explain four reasons men tend to lose weight faster than women:

1. Muscle mass

Men have more muscle mass compared to women. That’s primarily due to testosterone, which is responsible for building and maintaining strong muscles throughout a man’s lifetime.

Muscles make a difference when it comes to weight loss because they boost metabolism and burn more calories than fat.

2. Higher basal metabolic rate (BMR)

The BMR refers to the calories your body burns to keep you alive when resting. For example, your BMR uses energy to support essential organs and functions, like your brain, heart, and breathing.

You may be surprised to learn that the BMR accounts for 50%-70% of the total calories burned every day. On average, thermogenesis (heat production) accounts for 10%-15% of daily calories, while physical activity uses 20%-30% of them.

Your metabolism can slow down for many reasons, including:

• Hormonal changes
• Muscle loss
• Physical inactivity
• Age-related changes in energy production

However, men naturally have a higher BMR because they have more lean muscle. That gives them an edge over women in losing weight.

Though each person’s BMR is different, on average, men’s BMR uses 1,696 calories daily, while women have a BMR of 1,410 calories. While that’s only a difference of 286 calories, losing that many calories daily translates into dropping one pound in about 12 days.

Additionally, the higher your BMR, the more calories you burn during exercise and while engaging in daily activities.

3. Fat reserves

Everyone needs some body fat to stay healthy. However, women have a higher reserve of body fat because it’s essential for their reproductive health. 

Women’s body weight consists of 25%-31% fat. By comparison, men have 18%-24% body fat. The extra fat slows weight loss in women by lowering their BMR. Their body’s innate need to preserve fat to protect fertility may also make weight loss more difficult for women.

4. Fat location

Men and women store fat in different areas, which affects their ability to lose weight. Before menopause, women store more fat under the skin (subcutaneous fat). In men, fat accumulates in the abdomen (visceral fat).

It turns out that visceral fat is more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat. The body is more likely to break down visceral fat, making it easier to lose than subcutaneous fat.

What do the differences mean?

The differences between men and women highlight the challenges of weight loss. It’s never easy to reach your healthy weight, and there are many roadblocks along the way. These include variables such as gender, age, diet history, and overall health.

You have the best chance of success with a customized weight loss plan developed by the Premiere Medical Center team. Call the office in Toluca Lake, California, today or book an appointment online to begin your journey toward a healthier life.