Why do men lose weight faster than women?

It seems that weight loss in men is usually better and faster than women. Recently, a diet study has once again confirmed that it is correct.

In a study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, scientists said they tracked more than 2,000 obese adults who are in the pre-diabetes stage from places like Europe, Australia and New Zealand. (Pre-diabetes, also known as prediabetes - refers to patients with mild hyperglycemia who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.)

For eight consecutive weeks, volunteers had to make an 800-calorie daily diet, mostly liquid foods like soup, hot cereals, and 375 grams of low-calorie vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. . As a result, 35% of participants returned to normal blood sugar levels and no more prediabetes.

The scientists measured that the average male decreased by 11.8kg, while the female figure was only 10.2kg. In addition, they found that men not only reduced the total weight more but also had a better reduction in women in other respects: lower heart rate, lower fat, risk of diabetes. and metabolic syndrome is also lower.

Accordingly, metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms related to high blood pressure, BMI mass index, . appear at the same time, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

In addition, a low-calorie diet also significantly affects many other things on our bodies. Typically, when compared to men, women who ate 800 calories a day had less healthy HDL cholesterol levels - this change could be harmful to the heart, along with a pretty good reduction. large in BMD bone mineral density and muscle mass, making the body become weaker. But in return, their hip size decreases faster than men.

Gender is the main cause of this difference

According to Dr. Elizabeth Lowden, who specializes in endocrinology at the Weight Loss Surgery and Surgery Center in Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Illinois, who did not participate in the study, interviewed Live Science, the study proved. for any man to lose weight faster than women.

Gender differences are a decisive factor in weight loss and health improvement.

She said that because men have higher metabolic rates and muscles than women, men often tend to consume more calories, especially when all the volunteers are eating. follow an 800-calorie daily regimen, so losing weight faster is inevitable.

Now, the study has made a big step towards finding different metabolic effects between male and female diets. Because the middle part of the male body contains a lot of fat surrounding the internal organs, it is usually a big weight. And when that amount of visceral fat decreases, the body improves metabolism, helping them to consume more energy.

In women, fat will usually accumulate just below the skin of the thighs, buttocks and hips - important parts for reproduction. Lowden said when we lose the amount of fat under the skin, it will not be able to improve the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome as mentioned above, simply because that type of fat is not involved in the process. metabolically.

However, she also realized that one of the limitations of the study was not to indicate whether some of the women involved had undergone menopause. Because after menopause, women tend to store more fat around the middle of the body similar to men. At that time, their bodies will have a lot of metabolic activity fat which greatly affects the research results.

Another limitation of this study is that the findings focus only on short-term changes and cannot be sure whether reduced weight and health benefits can be sustained over a long period of time. is not.

However, Lowden said, for men and women who are overweight, even if diets bring different health effects, losing weight is always a good thing.