DIETING works better for men than women, a study found.
Edinburgh University scientists say the female sex hormone, oestrogen, makes it harder for women to lose weight by cutting calories.
In a four-week fat camp for 42 people, men lost 16 per cent of their body weight while women only shed half as much, at eight per cent.
After the age of 45 the gender divide disappeared and both lost 10 per cent.
Study author Professor William Cawthorn said: “Reduced-calorie diets have many health benefits.
“Their effectiveness may differ between males and females, but our study is the first to show that these differences largely disappear at older ages.
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“This could help us to devise improved nutritional strategies to prevent diseases and promote healthy ageing.”
The study compared male and female dieting in both humans and mice and found the same results.
Men were limited 2,000 calories per day and women to 1,500 calories, compared to the recommended intake of 2,500kcal and 2,000kcal.
As well as losing more weight, males also lowered their blood sugar more effectively by dieting.
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Two thirds of Brits are overweight or obese and around half of us are on a diet at any given time.
Writing in the journal eLife, Prof Cawthorn said men and women’s bodies react differently to low-calorie diets.
Men’s bodies continue burning all the food for energy but women’s store more of it as fat – even when they eat less.
The hormone oestrogen is known to increase fat storage to help boost fertility.
As women age and hit the menopause their oestrogen drops, which explains why dieting works equally well in older people, the study added.
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