There may be gender differences in the way men and women store their fat. It has been well established that in general, women have a higher percentage of body fat compared to men. In the healthy range, the body fat for men is 10-15% while for women it is 20-25%. On average, this indicates that women store anything between 6-11% more fat than men.

Body fat distribution varies among individuals but it also differs among genders. Women generally store more fat in their legs and buttocks (the gluteal-femoral region), as compared to men who store more fat in the abdominal area (the visceral region). This could be why anti cellulite massages would target different body areas for different people based on where their cellulites tend to form.

Nonetheless, what’s the reason behind the differences? And why do women have higher body fat content? Read on as we shed more light into this issue.

It is connected to childbearing

A research conducted by the University of New South Wales drew a link between the estrogen hormone and its impact on fat for childbearing. Studies show that the hormone reduces the ability for a woman to burn energy after eating. And this is likely to be attributed by childbearing, as a higher concentration of estrogen prompts the body to store more fat in anticipation of future pregnancies.

Efficient fat storage can be seen in preparation for fertility, foetal development and lactation, where it provides energy for the woman to nourish her offspring. These organic reserves come in the form of body fat, which often develop around the buttocks, thighs, breasts and hips.

Fat metabolism

As mentioned, men’s bodies tend to store excess fat in the abdominal region while women are more likely to develop subcutaneous fat. A study published in 2018, titled ‘Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism’, showed that women and men respond differently to rapid weight loss. Among over 2,000 individuals, there were 16% greater weight loss in men than women when they followed the same 8-week low‐energy diet.

This reflected that men typically lose weight faster than women, due to the difference in areas of fat storage. In men’s bodies, they lose more visceral fat which surrounds the internal organs, thus improving their metabolic rate to burn more calories. On the other hand, women generally have more subcutaneous fat around the hips, thighs and rear, which is less metabolically active to burn the stored fat.

The estrogen hormone

Changing estrogen levels can also affect how the body controls weight. There are 3 main types of estrogen: Estrone, Estradiol and Estriol – which the body produces depending on factors like puberty, pregnancy and menopause. According to a study done in 2009, it was found that estrogen promotes the accumulation of subcutaneous fat, which is why it can increase the risk for a woman to gain weight.

But after menopause, women tend to notice fat build-up in the abdomen. Low levels of estrogen associated with menopause has been linked to an increase in visceral fat. At the same time, older women may be less active and have less muscle mass, hence they could be burning fewer calories.

Conclusion

Despite the differences, maintaining a healthy level of body fat is essential for the proper functioning of your body. But you can seek to eliminate excess fat with the help of the best slimming treatment around and maintain a slimmer figure.

While you’re staying home indoors during this period, keep your body fit with our Thermal Dopa Set which uses heat infusion to improve blood stasis under the skin and eliminate the cold and humid waste in the body. The included herbal pack is specially formulated to help restore the body’s normal function of tissues and organs in the body, promote detoxification and inhibit the absorption of fat from food. The tone up essence is also ideal for toning and smoothening any cellulite appearance.

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