How Women and Men Differ When It Comes to Weight Loss

Yes, it’s true. Women and men lose weight differently. This is likely due to the fact that men generally have more muscle mass than fat mass, thanks to their high levels of testosterone. So, one of the first ways to help women lose weight with a weight-loss program is to work on building more muscle. 

Here at Ovation Women’s Wellness, our doctors are dedicated to creating a female-centered health care environment. We’re here in Flowood, Mississippi, to help you with all of the medical concerns that you have to deal with as a woman. And that’s why we’ve compiled this helpful guide on how women differ from men when it comes to weight loss. 

Muscle: Why men lose weight faster 

When you take two people of the same height, the one with more muscle mass is going to need more calories to maintain their weight and is going to burn calories faster. In fact, each pound of muscle burns about 35 to 50 calories. 

So, men have a tendency to lose weight faster than women, who usually carry more fat and less muscle mass. One solution for women looking to shed a few pounds is to build more muscle. This is especially important when you’re on a diet, because half of what you’re losing in weight is muscle mass. 

The more you eat correctly and strength train while you’re on a weight-loss program, the more you minimize muscle loss and the faster you burn calories. Building muscle also improves your mobility and your immune system. 

Women also tend to lose weight more slowly because of hormonal and pregnancy-related reasons. Female hormones work to keep women’s bodies healthy for reproductive reasons. And women tend to be healthier at a higher body fat percentage, as a low body weight can affect fertility and their reproductive cycles.  

Why where we carry our weight matters   

Premenopausal women and men carry weight in different places. Whereas young women tend to carry their weight in their hips and thighs, men and post menopausal women tend to carry their weight in their abdomen. 

The problem with abdominal fat is that it becomes inflammatory when it sits around your organs, raising your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. So it’s important to ensure that your exercise routine targets abdominal fat. 

At Ovation Women’s Wellness, we work with women to create a diet and exercise plan that’s custom-tailored to their needs. Lose weight safely and effectively – call us or schedule an appointment on our website today.