Last night, clicking through channels, I stumbled upon the final scenes of "The Biggest Loser," NBC's popular reality TV show that features contestants who compete to lose the most weight through healthy diets and hours of daily exercise. The scene that caught my attention—and surprise—showed trainer Jillian Michaels angrily berating the host for asking one of the female contestants if she'd given up on winning the game."She knows it's impossible for her to win," snapped an exasperated Michaels. Her reason why? A woman couldn't best the men in the weight loss and fitness game. (There's never been a female winner on this show, which is now in its fifth season.)
Having met many exceptional female athletes and women who've changed their lives dramatically through healthy eating and exercise, I had to wonder: Is Michaels right?
I've spent some time consulting academic journals to find some answers. Turns out, men hold a slight, but not significant, advantage in the weight loss category. According to this study in the journal Obesity, men and women lost weight at similar rates, with a modest 0.6 kg more weight lost by the men. Other studies reflect the same conclusion, showing weight loss differences between the sexes within a few pounds in the men's favor. Mostly, studies note the differences between genders in two important factors: where men and women store fat; and how they go about losing weight. Generally, men exercise; women diet. Studies show that by shifting their approach from fads to a healthy, well-balanced diet and an exercise plan that includes strength training to build muscle—which burns more energy than fat—women can hold their own against men.
And perhaps that's why on last night's episode of "The Biggest Loser," the one who ultimately lost the most weight for the week was a woman.
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