Do Men Lose Weight Faster?
Yes, say weight control experts. Differences
in muscle mass, body shape put women at a definite disadvantage. "There
are some important gender differences," says Peter McCullough, medical
director of Beaumont Hospital's Weight Control Center in Royal Oak. "Women
in general face a tougher road during weight loss than men."
For women, the path of weight control has
extra hurdles tied to metabolism, hormones and lifestyle.
Most experts agree men tend to lose weight
faster because they typically have more lean muscle mass and a lower body
fat percentage than women. Said simply, men generally have a higher metabolism,
or rate at which they burn calories, because they have more muscle.
"It looks like especially in those
in a really overweight category ... at peak exercise, men can burn more
calories than women," says McCullough, who is also a consultant cardiologist
in chief of Beaumont's Nutrition and Preventive Medicine division.
For next page, click Weight
Control in Women & Men
Weight Loss & Weight Management
An increase in physical activity is an important part of your weight loss
program. Physical activity improves your muscle/fat ratio - thus raising
metabolism for easier weight loss - and boosts your motivation to maintain
the weight you lose.
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