Why is it harder to lose weight for women?

essentricsmtl
May 24, 2021
3 min read

Why is it harder for women to lose weight? There are a few reasons for this, and I'm here to help you create a path that will help you lose weight. But, before we begin, let's remember that every woman is different.

Let's consider a few areas that can make us different from our female friends when it comes to losing weight:

How quickly we burn calories
When we are not physically active can be very different from others
How our specific genes, biology, environment and other parts of our life may be different.

Why is it harder for women to lose weight? — Women Likes Carbs, Men Likes Meat

Do women lose weight differently than men?

Yes and no. Most men lose weight more quickly than women because they have more muscle, while women may have more fat. In addition, because muscle burns more calories than fat, men may burn more calories at rest than women. One study showed that men have a faster metabolism, too — anywhere between 3 to 10 percent higher than women.

Plus, remember most men are larger than us on average and have more muscle to support, making it easier for men to eat more calories while still losing weight!

Therefore, portion control may be one significant factor for us to implement. For example, in another study, women who ate smaller portions of food and food intake overall had lower BMIs than women who limited or avoided a certain type of food.

Women Like Carbs, Men Like Meat

It's true. One big difference between the sexes lies in food preferences, according to research.

"Men and women tend to crave different kinds of foods. Several studies have shown that men report more craving for savoury foods (e.g., meat, fish, eggs), whereas women report more craving for sweet foods (e.g., chocolate, pastries, ice cream)."

That doesn't mean we're stuck or lose hope. Instead, see this as having an edge, and now you can individualize your eating plan so you can enjoy your preferences for carbs or protein. And always select the healthy versions.

Women are Hungry After Exercise

As you can see, there is growing evidence that men's and women’s brains are wired differently when it comes to food.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed brain scan activity in the region that controls the drive to eat for women even though they stated they were not hungry when asked to smell or observe foods such as pizza and chocolate cake.

This was not the case for men. So now I know why when my husband orders fries, I get the urge to pinch a few!

Finally, there’s biochemistry. In women, ghrelin — the “I’m hungry” hormone — spikes after a workout, while leptin — which tells the brain ‘I’m full!’ — plummets, according to a 2009 study in the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integral and Comparable Physiology. Not so in men. So post-workout, women tend to eat more, which puts them at risk of gaining weight. Men don’t experience this same hormonal fluctuation.

What can women do to help us to lose weight steadily?

Get active! Not only will strength training build muscle mass and help you burn more calories, but it will also strengthen your bones, preventing osteoporosis -- a disease primarily of women. (And, of course, it gives you a more shapely physique.)
Keep a journal. The road to permanent lifestyle change & weight control is a personal journey. Individualized meal plans, tailor-made for either sex, are fundamental. By keeping a journal, you'll begin to understand your daily habits, track how you feel and work towards your goal -- successful weight management.
Plan ahead. Now that you know you may get hungry after exercise, always pack a safe snack, so you’re not prone to go after the chips, eat everything that's in front of you or overeat at dinner.
Don’t get too hungry. I'm not a proponent to eat every three to four hours. But I agree you should have 3 regular meals with 2 snacks, like when we were in school. So if you find yourself getting too hungry, you’re more likely to cave to cues and triggers that cause you to overeat. So prepare and have available healthy, nutrient-rich snacks!