Investigation: Do Women Really Feel Colder Than Men?

The common stereotype suggests that women always feel colder and need more layers, but is this notion scientifically accurate? Despite widespread observations, there have been limited controlled studies on how men and women’s bodies respond to cold temperatures.

A recent study conducted at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) yielded unexpected results regarding the perception of cold between men and women. The study involved 28 participants, both male and female, who spent five hours in a temperature-controlled room while wearing provided clothing.

Surprisingly, the researchers found minimal differences between the sexes in their physiological responses to the cold. Despite the common belief that women feel colder than men, the study revealed that women actually had slightly higher core body temperatures in colder environments.

Gender Parity in Physiological Responses to Cold

Additionally, there were no notable differences between men and women in factors such as glucose uptake, muscle activity, skin temperature, or cold-induced thermogenesis. Although female participants generally produced less body heat due to their smaller physique, their relatively higher body fat helped regulate their body temperature.

The study suggests that women’s comfort zone for temperature bottoms out at around 22°C, slightly lower than that of men.

However, as temperatures decreased to 17°C, both men and women showed similar responses in terms of onset of shivering and reported comfort levels. Previous hypotheses regarding why women may feel colder than men did not align with the study’s findings.

While one small study may not settle the debate conclusively, it does prompt a shift towards more rigorous scientific investigation beyond mere observations and common beliefs.

Broadening Perspectives on Human Physiology

Historically, there has been a notable lack of research on sex differences in thermoregulation, with human physiology studies predominantly focused on the male body as the default for all individuals. However, such a narrow approach fails to consider the complexities of human physiology, including the impact of hormonal fluctuations and medications, which can vary based on sex and gender.

Researchers at the NIH emphasize that individual differences in thermoregulation are influenced by various factors, including body size and composition, which may be partially linked to sex. They stress the importance of replicating these findings in larger and more diverse study samples to improve generalizability.

Read the original article article on: Science Alert

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