Gender equality concerns us in many areas of life, but what about body health?

Gender equality concerns us in many areas of life, but specifically in the context of nutrition and body health we occasionally call for inequality, and we will immediately explain. In the last century, most studies in nutrition were based on male participants. The results of the studies and the recommendations following them were for the entire population in a comprehensive way, that is, for both men and women. Today it is clear and known that there is a great difference between women and men in physiological, emotional, social and cultural aspects that also affect the diet, the relevant nutritional recommendations and health in general.

For example, men's risk of heart disease or prostate cancer is higher and this should also be taken into account in the diet, on the other hand, women's risk of osteoporosis is higher, and this should also be taken into account in sweeping dietary recommendations. Gender nutrition is a field of science that examines the nutritional differences between them in a gendered manner: food consumption, hormonal effects, body structure, areas where fat tissue accumulates and body image.

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus

John Gray's book Men from Mars and Women from Venus, published in 1992, explores the differences between men and women and how they can learn to understand each other better. Gray claims that men and women have different emotional needs, different attitudes and different communication styles for solving problems. We believe that understanding the differences can help to deal more correctly with food and nutrition, therefore spouses cannot always adopt the same meals or diets.

find the differences

Adipose tissue: adipose tissue has an essential role in storage, in protecting internal organs, in maintaining body heat and is necessary for normal fertility. The average fat percentage for women is 25-30%, and for men 18-24%. The fat distribution is also different. In women – in the area of the hips and pelvis – a pear-shaped structure, compared to an apple-shaped structure – which is considered more masculine – and is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the abdominal area.

Studies indicate a connection between body structure and a tendency to certain diseases. Accumulation of fat in the abdominal area increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases. Accumulation of fat in the abdominal area is typical in women especially during menopause along with the decrease in the female hormone estrogen. Apart from that, there are other changes that result from pregnancies, births and then the breastfeeding period, which also affect the body structure, fat percentages, skin elasticity and general appearance. These sometimes make it harder to lose weight, compared to men, and can cause frustration.

Caloric intake: Women usually have lower height, muscle mass and metabolic rate than men, so they require a lower average caloric intake to maintain a healthy weight, compared to men. The higher the muscle mass, the higher the caloric expenditure.

Food components: the recommended daily intake for women is lower than that of men, however, minerals such as iron and calcium are required in a higher amount for women. Women are at a higher risk of iron deficiency anemia mainly due to blood loss during the menstrual cycle. The recommended allowance for calcium is also high compared to men because of a higher risk of osteoporosis, a disease that damages the bones. The recommendation for the consumption of vitamin 9B, known as folic acid, among women planning a pregnancy is particularly prominent. Folic acid is important for fetal development and reduces the risk of birth defects.

Body image: It seems that the body structure, weight and general appearance preoccupy women more than men, even if the data in the field indicates otherwise and the percentage of obesity among men is higher. There is a difference in the perception of weight and appearance in general for women compared to men, which leads to a higher frequency of preoccupation with food, eating, diets, weight and also to a higher frequency of eating disorders among women compared to men.

Sometimes it seems that being overweight in women is seen as an aesthetic problem, while being overweight in men is seen more as a health problem. And this regardless of age, socio-economic status or family medical history.

Hormonal effects: Women experience significant hormonal changes in the life cycle. Puberty, menopause, pregnancies and births, monthly cycle – a high percentage of women deal with premenstrual syndrome every month. A change in the hormonal balance causes changes in appetite, and is sometimes accompanied by an increased desire for sweets and food in general, sadness and irritability that for some translate into more eating.

Brain activity in the genders

Interesting expressions of differences between men and women can also be seen in new nutrition studies using MRI. MRI technology allows researchers to obtain accurate images of the structure of the brain and measure the activity of the neurons in it.

An interesting example is a study published in April this year in the journal Brain Communications. Researchers from the University of California in Los Angeles have found that there is a different brain activity between men and women that can explain the motivations for obesity. The study examined women and men, of normal weight and overweight, with the aim of identifying mechanisms in the brain that can explain impulses and eating behaviors. The study was carried out using MRI tests, behavioral and clinical questionnaires, which include reference to mood and past hardships.

The results of the study indicated that among overweight women there are differences in the neural networks in the brain associated with early life adversity, the quality of mental health and the way sensory stimulation is experienced. Changes in these networks indicate that compared to men, women with a high BMI (body mass index) are hypersensitive and crave ultra-processed foods, and therefore the chance of developing a food addiction is greater.

Although causality is unknown, strong associations between clinical markers, such as anxiety, depression, obesity, and neural signatures point to the importance of the gut-brain axis connection. It is estimated that compulsive eating related to emotions plays a major role in obesity in women. That is, the difficulty in regulating emotions often translates into overeating.

Understanding the differences between the sexes is important because it can help to better understand the causes of obesity and treat it in a personalized way.