Men vs Women Fitness Comparison

Ectomorph – Characterized by little body fat and little muscle. They have a hard time gaining weight, which gives them the nickname “hard-gainer”. These types of people would be your cross-country runners or fashion models.  Most individuals dream of having a metabolism this fast, however this body type struggles to put on weight and can only do so by consuming massive amounts of calories. This type usually has the 6-pack abs and is very vascular.

Mesomorph – These individuals are inclined to gain muscle mass quite easily.  They are definitely not easy-gainers however they are not hard-gainers either. Mesomorph body types are usually very athletic looking and walk with good posture. Mesomorphs can build muscle faster than Ectomorphs. They can also lose fat much faster than Endomorphs as long as they eat and train properly

Endomorph – This body type typically has lots of body fat, lots of muscle, and gains weight very easily.  They have a much tougher time losing  fat than the other two body types.  The most can be made out of this body type with a personalized nutrition plan and a dedicated workout regimen.

Fact is that most people are a combination of more than one body type. Two of the most common combinations are the pear-shaped ecto-endomorphs with thin, delicate upper bodies and high fat storage in the hips and thighs, and apple-shaped endo-ectomorphs, with high fat storage in the mid-section and thin lower bodies.

What Body Type Are You?

Hormone Differences Between Men and Women

Female Hormones

Estrogen

• Function
  • Secondary sex characteristics
  • Increase HDL , Decrease LDL
  • Increase Cortisol
  • Reduces Breakdown of bone

Thyroid Hormones

• Function
  • Increase Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
  • Regulate protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism
  • Stimulate vitamin metabolism

Cortisol

• Function (Normal)
  • Regulation of blood pressure
  • Insulin release for blood sugar maintenance
  • Immune function
  • Inflammatory response

Associated Problems

• Suppressed thyroid function
• Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia
• Decreased bone density
• Decrease in muscle tissue

Male Hormones

Testosterone

• Function
  • Promote protein synthesis
  • Growth of muscle mass and strength
  • Increased bone density
  • Secondary sex characteristics

HGH

• Function
  • Increases muscle mass through cell growth
  • Promotes lipolysis (fat metabolism)
  • Increases protein synthesis
  • Stimulates the growth of all internal organs excluding the brain

Cortisol

• Function (Normal)
  • Regulation of blood pressure
  • Insulin release for blood sugar maintenance
  • Immune function
  • Inflammatory response

Associated Problems

• Suppressed thyroid function
• Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia
• Decreased bone density
• Higher amount of abdominal fat

Skeletal Differences Between Men and Women

Female

• Larger hip angle which leads to instability at the knee
• The knee is internally rotated
• Female trouble areas
  • The lower abdominals (particularly post pregnancy)
  • Hips
  • Thighs

Men

• Larger body frame which is capable of supporting more muscle mass
• Male trouble areas
  • Abdominals

 
Physiological Differences Between Men and Women

Females have a higher natural body-fat percentage than males do. Therefore, a “low” or athletic body fat percentage in a female will be higher than that of a male. The human body does need a minimal amount of fat to function properly; 3% for males and 12% for females.