The weight-loss 'battle of the sexes'

November 2009

A six-month study has backed what most of us thought was true anyway – it is easier for men to lose weight. Conducted by the University of Surrey in the UK, the study of 300 participants showed that 13 out of the 20 most successful dieters were men, even though men made up just 30 percent of the participants. Plus, the men, on average, lost twice as much weight as women.

But women can be equally successful at weight loss… it just may take them a little longer.

Body fat and composition

One reason why men seem to lose weight faster is body composition. Generally, women have a higher percentage of body fat compared with men. This is partly due to hormones.

Female sex hormones, oestrogens, help store body fat. This is essential to provide the concentrated calories needed to nourish an unborn baby and for breastfeeding afterwards. In fact, a certain amount of body fat is necessary, simply to ovulate. In percentage terms, the average healthy-weight man has about 15 percent body fat, while the average healthy-weight woman would have 20-25 percent. Even elite female athletes still have more body fat than elite male athletes (about 15 percent compared to 7 percent for men).

It should also be noted that since a man’s excess weight is more likely to be concentrated around his belly, his initial weight loss may be easier to notice than a woman’s. This is because her excess fat tends to be distributed across her hips, thighs, waist, bust and arms, and therefore appears to be lost more gradually.

The muscle factor

The dominant hormone in men is testosterone. Testosterone drives muscle mass production, and since muscle requires calories (energy) to exist, people with more muscle burn calories faster than those with less of it. It’s a bit like a car with four cylinders compared with a six-cylinder vehicle; given the same amount of fuel, the six-cylinder car burns more fuel over the same distance.

'His & her' strengths and weaknesses

In general, women tend to be more emotional than men. They often respond to strong emotions by eating and use food as a source of comfort, not just nutrition. Men, on the other hand, are prone to irregular eating patterns; they’re also more likely to be the 'vacuum cleaner' of the family, eating all the leftovers and leaving nothing for waste!

But, when it comes to addressing weight issues, women are better at recognising that things need to change. Men are more likely to be in denial about their weight; for example, an Australian National Health Study found that 50 percent of men who are overweight recognise that they have a weight problem. While only 25 percent of women are in denial about their weight issues. This ability to recognise problems gives women a great advantage in the weight-loss stakes.

So who wins the weight-loss battle?

Both men and women can win the battle! When it comes down to the nitty gritty, both genders need to understand the basics of weight management, that is – the ‘energy in, energy out’ equation. But how that principle is applied can differ between men and women. In fact, everyone is different and there is no one specific diet that suits everyone.

Remember: weight loss is a challenge for everyone, no matter what your gender. Succeeding means achieving your specific weight-loss goals, not doing it faster or more easily than the opposite sex.