Why Women Lose Weight More Slowly Than Men

Social Pressure

For most men, a little bit of weight gain isn’t a huge deal – it’s more acceptable for men to carry a little paunch around the middle. Likewise, men have far more encouragement to hit the gym and engage in exercises that help them build muscle (and increase their metabolic weight).

Women, on the other hand, have a lot of social pressure to be slim but not muscular. That means that losing weight comes with a significant amount of fear and guilt that can hinder success. Plus, women tend to go for more cardio-based exercises that can certainly help with weight loss, but won’t help improve your overall metabolic rate through increased muscle mass.

Time

Another social influence: men simply have more time to devote to exercise and meal planning. While it’s obviously not the case in every situation, women are far more likely than men to spend their spare time caring for a home, running errands, and performing childcare tasks, leaving them at a disadvantage when it comes to logging hours on the treadmill, and making them more likely to reach for a prepared meal instead of a time-consuming dinner of whole grains, proteins, and veggies.

What to Do?

Ultimately, what’s important is to make your weight loss about you. It’s not a contest. Focus on your own health and well-being  and what changes you can make to your life without upsetting the balance of everything else. You’ll be more likely to lose weight and keep it off when it’s not a source of stress, frustration, or guilt.

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