Abstract. Women generally have a higher percentage of body fat than men. Also, women store more fat in the gluteal-femoral region, whereas men store more fat in the visceral (abdominal) depot.
On average, women have 6 to 11 percent more body fat than men.
The reason for this difference is that women at some point in their lives may nourish a fetus and then a baby from their own reserves, so women have to stock energy in the form of fat in anticipation of future pregnancies (and must stock even more energy during the last two trimesters of pregnancy).
So, what factors influence body fat percentage in each gender? Women typically have around 10% higher body fat compared to men but aging increases the risk of obesity in both sexes.
It is well established that women generally have a higher percentage of body fat than men. A healthy range of body fat for women is 20-25%, and a healthy range of body fat for men is 10-15% (Robergs and Roberts, 1997). A body fat percentage over 20% for men or 30% for women is considered an indication of obesity.
Men tend to have greater muscle mass than women, thanks to testosterone, and muscles burn more calories than fat at rest. Muscles also have insulin receptors, which allow men to metabolize blood sugar faster and use glucose for energy.
For the same body mass index (BMI), women typically present with ~10% higher body fat compared to men [19,20].
20-22% body fat: This is the “fit” category of the majority of the body fat charts. Also, this level is the most common among female athletes. The women has some definition in the abs and there is a small amount of body fat on the arms and the legs, but it isn't too visible.
Changes to the Buttocks, Hips, and Thighs
This tends to be more pronounced in women than in men given the gendered differences in fat accumulation and distribution. Widening of the hips and buttocks can lead to a distinct pear shape. Fat can also accumulate along the thighs and upper portions of the legs.
On average, women have less total muscle mass than men, both in absolute and relative terms. The differences in lean body mass between the sexes appear sometime during puberty and remain throughout our lives. What is this? Both men and women gain muscle mass through long-term strength training, regardless of age.
On average, women have 6 to 11 percent more body fat than men. Studies show oestrogen reduces a woman's ability to burn energy after eating, resulting in more fat being stored around the body. The likely reason is to prime women for childbearing, the review suggests.
There is more fat all around the body at the 30% level including waist, back, thighs, and calves. The waist looks larger relative to the hips, and the stomach will likely be protruding over the waist noticeably. There is no muscle separation.
The recommended ranges for healthy men are between 10-20% body fat, and for women, the ranges are 18-28%. If your body fat exceeds these ranges, but you have a normal weight when you stand on the scale, you may be skinny fat.
Testosterone. Testosterone is a highly studied androgen that is associated with an increase in muscle mass (66, 83).
"It is impossible to have zero percent body fat," says Dr. Sutterer. Guys should have roughly two to five percent of essential fat, he says. It's just not humanly possible to have only 0.33 percent body fat.
Males generally have more muscle mass than females. As a result, it is easier for them to build more visible abs. Males are also not at risk of problems with menstruation. However, males and females still face the same challenge of sticking to the diet and exercise habits that are necessary for well-defined abs.
A low resting metabolic rate (RMR) has been proposed as a possible cause for the increased body fat commonly seen in women compared with men. Absolute RMR is higher in men, but whether RMR adjusted for lean body mass (LBM) remains higher is unresolved.
Because men generally have an overall larger body (both height and weight) and greater muscle mass than women, they also have increased caloric needs compared to women.
“Metabolic rate is in part driven by your muscle mass, and women have less muscle and more fat naturally than men,” says dietitian and certified diabetes educator Dawn Noe, RD, LD, CDE.
Summary. If you're a skinny guy with belly fat, your main problem is nutrient partitioning—you're storing fat instead of building muscle when you gain weight, and you're losing muscle instead of burning fat when you lose weight. Over time, that can make people skinny-fat.
The body-fat percentage range starts at around 8–12%, depending on the person (study). When you get leaner than your body wants to be, your fat cells get hungry, cortisol levels rise, and testosterone drops (study). That makes it harder to build muscle and easier to gain fat.
Heavier people not only have more fat mass but also more fat-free mass, likely making them stronger (in absolute sense) compared to normal-weight people. Heavier people are more positive about strength exercises compared to (1) normal-weight people and (2) aerobic exercises.
Thigh fat is typically caused by an excess of weight being carried in the thighs, usually from people who are currently or have been obese. Yet, thin people can have thigh fat, too. Other common causes of thigh fat include genetics, age, and hormonal levels.