Men and women are not created equal, at least as far as burning calories is concerned. While it may not be fair it's nevertheless true that men can consume more calories than women without putting on weight and they can also lose weight faster than women. Certain, albeit slight biological differences between the sexes appear to give men an advantage in the calorie-burning department.
Metabolism
Metabolism refers to bodily processes such as breathing, balancing hormones, circulating blood and cellular growth and repair that require energy. Your basal metabolic rate -- BMR -- refers to the number of calories your body uses to perform these tasks.
Men have a two-fold advantage when it comes to BMR. Larger bodies generally burn calories more quickly and men tend to have more muscle and less body fat than women, which helps burn calories more efficiently. A woman's BMR is approximately 5 to 10 percent lower than a man's, according to WeightWatchers.com.
Physical Activity
Men generally burn more calories both at rest and during exercise. Men also tend to be more physically active than women, which accounts for an even greater and quicker number of calories. Exercise helps control weight, maintain weight loss and prevent obesity. Women who follow a regular workout regime exercise without changing their diet can lose significantly more weight than more sedentary women, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Expert Insight
A metabolism study published in January 1998 in the "American Journal of Physiology" found the primary reason women's energy expenditure was lower than men's was because they burn significantly fewer calories during physical activity. Researchers concluded that low rates of energy expenditure may make females, particularly African-American women, more likely to become obese.
Solutions
Engaging in regular exercise that includes weight training can help burn calories and manage weight. Lifting weights strengthens muscles, which can accelerate the calorie-burning process, explains the Mayo Clinic. At least 30 minutes of aerobic activity such as swimming or brisk walking is needed for cardiovascular health, but closer to 60 minutes of daily exercise may be needed to lose weight.
References
- Weight Watchers; Gender Differences in Metabolism; 2009
- Mayo Clinic; Metabolism and Weight Loss: How You Burn Calories; October 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Exercise - Exercise's Effects on Weight
- "American Journal of Physiology"; Total Daily Expenditure in Free-Living Older African-Americans and Caucasians; W.H. Carpenter, et al; January 1998
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