Khaberni - Although everyone feels cold in winter, women suffer more than men in this aspect. This is not just a common myth, but a scientifically measurable fact.
A recent study, which monitored 28 men and women under varying temperatures, found that women's bodies respond to cold more strongly: their internal temperatures drop quickly, and their bodies exert more effort to retain warmth.
The difference was not in the skin, as researchers were surprised to find the skin temperature between genders was similar. However, the real difference was deeper, specifically in the metabolic rate - the speed at which the body burns energy.
Men possess a more powerful internal engine because they have greater muscle mass, and muscles, even at rest, produce energy and heat.
Women, on the other hand, have less muscle mass and a higher fat percentage. Although fat is an excellent thermal insulator, it does not generate sufficient heat. As a result, a woman feels cold even while wearing warm clothes.
Dr. Robert Prichetta, the team leader, explained that any small-sized person, be it a man or a woman, will generate less heat. Thus, the difference is not just between men and women, but between sizes and body compositions.
But the story doesn't end with metabolism. Previous studies have indicated that the basic body temperature of women is slightly higher than that of men. This small difference makes cold air more bothersome for them, as the gap between their body temperature and the surrounding air becomes larger.
There are also external factors that affect the feeling of cold or warmth, such as stress, which raises body temperature, smoking, which reduces blood flow to the extremities, and hormonal birth control pills, which slightly raise the baseline temperature.
