Scary thought: Did you know that you could still gain weight, even when exercising and eating healthy, if your metabolic rate is too low? Everyone thinks that diet and living an active lifestyle are the two weight loss determiners, but there's something we often forget – our bodies' built-in fat busting mechanisms. Let's take a look at how the metabolism functions in layman's terms, and two reasons why a man's metabolism is faster than a woman's…
What's a Metabolism?
Even while you rest, your body is a hive of internal activity. One of these is your metabolism, which is a fancy way of saying how efficient your body is at burning kilojoules while you are at rest. Ever meet those people who just stay skinny regardless of what they eat or how little exercise they undertake? Some individuals have higher metabolic rates than others, which means that their bodies are able to burn their calories up without them having to exercise much or submit to a kilojoule-controlled diet.
People who struggle with their weight, on the other hand, are on the opposite end of the spectrum. Their metabolic rate is lower and thus cannot burn kilojoules fast enough. Regardless of how well they eat or how often they exercise, people with lower metabolic rates will always struggle with weight gain. A man's metabolism is, on average, higher than a woman's, however things like genetics, age and body size all play a role in metabolic rate.
Two Reasons a Man's Metabolism is Faster
1) Higher Testosterone Levels
Registered Boston dietitian, Kate Scarlata, reveals that testosterone plays a role in why a man's metabolism is faster than a woman's. She argues that men have much higher testosterone levels than women, a key hormone that influences body fat percentage and muscle mass. With higher testosterone comes less body fat and more lean muscle mass, which leads to a better metabolism – or at least one that burns more kilojoules.
2) Physiological Make-Up
NYC Surgical Associates member, Dr. Christopher Hollingsworth, adds that a man's metabolism is designed for speed, strength and physical size. In general, men have more lean muscle mass, and they burn through visceral fat reserves faster than a woman's body. A man's body will use that energy for activity, while saving less for fasting periods (a woman's body stores more fat for fasting periods).
Why is a Woman's Metabolism Slower?
As mentioned above, a woman's body stores more fat than a man's. Why is this, though? It has to do with a female's genetics. Women's bodies are predisposed to store energy for things like carrying a baby and breastfeeding. This means that more of the food a woman eats is being stored as fat, instead of being used to build muscle and strengthen bone as is the case in the male anatomy.
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