Is It Harder For A Man To Lose Weight Than A Woman?

Research disallows that men have a harder time losing weight than women, though Dr. Alfred Ordman states it could be true. In "Pilot study for an age- and gender-based nutrient signaling system for weight control," a 2008 research study published in AGE, his hypothesis, "It will be harder to cause weight loss in women (W) than in men (M) because women have evolved to survive to care for offspring" proved to be "particularly controversial."

Muscle Vs. Fat

There is little direct research proving claims that men lose weight easier than women. This hypothesis, paraded as fact, is based on the differences between male and female body composition -- specifically, the ratio of muscle to fat. In men, approximately 15 percent of their body weight is fat compared with women, who carry approximately 25 percent of their body weight as fat. Muscle burns more calories, more efficiently and for longer periods of time, even while resting. This is why women, as well as men, are encouraged to incorporate strength training in their exercise regimen, especially if they want to speed up the weight loss process.

Female Fertility And Fat

Adequate adipose tissue is essential for women who wish to conceive and that is why, researchers hypothesize, a woman's body may be more resistant to losing fat than a man's. Men, on the other hand, were primarily hunters and gatherers, activities which demanded more muscle and thus produced a leaner body type for men. In an article published in 2001 by the American College of Sports Medicine, "Exercise & Weight Control: Myths, Truths and Gender Differences," author Nancy Clark, MS, refers to studies which support claims that women have a harder time losing pounds than did men. Even when men and women added exercise, women still failed to lose as much weight.

Diet And Self-Control

Dr. Gene-Jack Wang conducted an experiment in which a group of men and women were deprived of food for 17 hours, then asked to control their food cravings while being bombarded with the smells of their favorite foods. Published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" in 2008 by Dr. Wang and co-horts, the study entitled, "Evidence of gender differences in the ability to inhibit brain activation elicited by food stimulation" concluded that men may have the advantage in self-control over cravings. The men in the study were able to distract themselves mentally and emotionally from their cravings with more success than the women.

Cultural Barriers

Muddying scientific research are perceived cultural barriers that may make it harder for men to lose weight than women. Afterall, the majority of diets, exercises and weight-loss programs appear to be targeting women. Jessica Grose claims in a January 2010 "Slate" article -- "The Biggest Loser" Makes Diets Manly" -- that men have to take a "manly" approach to weight loss and also have "manly reasons" to lose weight such as staying healthy enough to support their families. The pressure to compete, work out at a killer pace and "tough it out" may discourage men from embarking on a safe and healthy weight loss plan.

Considerations

If you are a male concerned with losing weight and envious of a female cohort who seems to be doing it effortlessly, perhaps it is time you tried a different tactic. Dr. John Biffra, interviewed regarding his book, "Waist Disposal" in a May 15, 2010 article "The diet that helps you lose your paunch" in the United Kingdom Times, points out that men aren't being catered to enough when it comes to weight loss advice and techniques. He stresses that men should focus on waist control more so than weight control since fat surrounding the waist is more indicative of future health problems. He recommends that men avoid counting calories, eliminate or reduce foods with a high glycemic index, and measure the circumference of their waist rather than tracking body mass index or weight.