Have you scaled your weight recently? Did you get excited or discouraged by your weight? Is your weight loss plan working out, or you need some changes? Whether you are a man or a woman, you need to monitor your weight to stay healthy. But the question is, should a man and a woman approach weight loss differently?
According to Dr. Rekha B. Kumar, director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, some differences exist in women and men regarding weight loss. During an interview with Healthline, she said various factors make the difference.
How Men and Women Weight Loss Differ
- Hormones
Women have different hormones that control their bodies. According to statistics, 5% to 10% of women struggle with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A condition that causes hormonal imbalance, thus making weight loss a challenge. Also, women gain more weight around the hips and less around the belly before menopause.
On the other hand, women in menopause gain more weight around the abdomen because of losing estrogen. Also, a pregnant woman tends to gain weight and adds fat due to changes in the body.
When it comes to men, fewer hormones interfere with their body changes. If a man gains weight, it is around the abdomen.
- Diet
Men go for a meat diet while women are attached to carbohydrates. However, a meat diet fits men more than women. This is because a man’s body burns calories faster than a woman’s body.
Women have more knowledge about dieting because they are near the kitchen. As a result, they tend to embrace healthy eating more than men. On the other side, once a man pays attention to healthier eating, he gets quicker results.
- Muscle Matter
Men have more muscles and less fat compared to women because of higher testosterone levels. As a result, they need to eat more calories to maintain the muscles. That is why, even if a man takes many calories, they won’t gain as much weight as a woman.
Also, muscles burn more calories at rest than fat. Therefore, even when a man is resting, his calories continue to burn down.
Women, on the other hand, carry more fat and fewer calories. If you take a woman who sits in the office all day without a weight loss plan and a man, the woman will gain more weight than the man.
- Time
According to Dr. Kumar, men lose weight faster than men. A woman can lose 0.5 to 1 pound of weight in a week, while a man cuts 2 pounds in a week at the beginning of a weight management plan. Hormones cause the difference.
- Lifestyle
In most cultures, women can sit and discuss dieting, but men don’t talk. Also, it seems okay for a woman to take a salad, but some may have a different perspective for a man.
Besides, most men approach weight loss by exercising and intermittent fasting while women choose to diet. Women may not have enough time to exercise due to balancing work and home responsibilities.
- Stress Management
Both men and women handle stress differently. Most men find habitual activities like playing golf or video games to cope with stress. Therefore, a man tends to maintain his weight or lose it when handling stress.
However, women find themselves diving into emotional eating. They meet with other women in a restaurant or club to talk and take some chips and chocolate as they talk. As a result, some women gain weight when handling stress.
5 Weight Loss Tips for Women
- Limit Taking Refined Carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates are associated with belly fat and increased body weight. They increase hunger and your blood level sugars. The carbohydrates also take longer to be processed in the body, thus reducing micronutrients in the final product.
- Drink Water Regularly
It is an effortless weight loss mechanism. According to a minor study, when you drink 500ml of water often, you increase the number of calories burned by 30% after 30-40 minutes. Besides, taking water before a meal heightens weight loss and causes a 13% decrease in calories taken.
- Do Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise increases the heart rate and thus burns calories. Schedule at least 20-40 minutes a day for the cardio or 150-300 minutes in a week. According to research, aerobic exercise leads to significant weight loss, especially with a healthy diet.
- Take Healthy Snacks
Women love snacks. However, eating sugary and fatty snacks adds fat to your body. Therefore, it is crucial to take a low-calorie snack to prevent weight gain. You can have fruits, nuts, or veggies. They are not only nutritious but also help in losing weight.
- Have a Healthy Breakfast
Kicking off your day with a nutritious breakfast is essential. It helps you to monitor your appetite and hunger level. According to studies, taking a high-protein breakfast reduces your hunger level. As a result, it boosts the hormone ghrelin.
5 Weight Loss Remedies for Men
- Take Fruits and Vegetables
When coming from work, stop by a grocery and pick a fruit. Make it a habit each day to have a fruit or a salad. Some may comment on a man having a salad versus a woman; it is for your health benefit.
- Exercise Frequently
As a man, exercise a lot. You can sign in for gym classes or do a workout at home. It helps to build your muscles as you burn down the excess calories. Besides, lift heavy things to strengthen your body muscles.
- Avoid Processed Food
Avoid junk foods like chips and carbonated drinks. It gives room for a fat belly, thus increasing your weight. Eat natural foods that lead to weight loss. Besides, healthy foods boost your body’s immunity.
- Eat Proportionally
Don’t overeat food at the same time. It makes your body have excess calories that build up and increase your body weight. Therefore, take small portions of food regularly to give your body enough digestion time. Also, it helps your body take in enough calories that maintain your weight.
- Have Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting involves eating as you alternate with fasting for a specific time in a day. You can fast for 14-24 hours a day. It helps to burn calories and thus helps in weight loss. Besides, it boosts metabolism, heightening the number of calories burnt when your body is at rest.
Both a man and a woman need to maintain a healthy body. Each should cut down weight by embracing an approach that suits them. Therefore, try out different weight loss approaches and settle with the one that brings better results.
