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Weight loss ratios can differ in men and women, due to several factors.

To begin with, one prominent factor that makes a difference in weight loss ratios is that men appear to build more muscle tissue than women, and therefore have a greater metabolic rate. This in turn will tend to burn more calories, resulting in a greater weight loss capability for men, than for women. This can change, however, when other possible factors are taken into account, such as diet, exercise, and lifestyle.

Women, on the other hand, in addition, a have a higher body fat proportion than men.
In general, an average woman's fat percentage is 24 %, compared to a man's 14 %.

Women are inclined to accumulate more fat since their bodies are predisposed to adequately support pregnancy and childbirth, when and if they would have children. As a direct result, women probably will have to work harder, to maintain a healthy weight. Again, an increase in exercise, and including, a decrease in caloric intake, can possibly counteract any negative fat accumulation.

Since the fat percentage ratio is greater for a woman than a man, to the same degree, the amount of lean muscle is lower in a woman, compared to the lean muscle mass in a man. The end result of these statistics is that a woman will have to burn more calories to reduce her fat calories, than a man.

If a man and woman would go on similar weight reduction programs of calorie restriction and exercise, at the same time, a man probably would lose weight faster than a woman, if the variables stayed basically the same.

As we age, however, both men and women will experience a slow down in their metabolism, making weight loss more of a challenge for both sexes.

The difference in weight loss among sexes can also be attributed to social acceptance, where a woman maybe more motivated than a man to lose weight. Women have shown to accept weight loss advice more than men, which maybe why there is a higher incidence of women, than, men in weight loss groups.

Whatever the differences maybe in the sexes concerning weight loss, it's still up to the individual to actively pursue their own weight loss goals.

Learn more about this author, Eva Perry.
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