Some studies have shown that while men feel comfortable in rooms with the thermostat set at 72 degrees, women tend to feel comfortable in rooms with the thermostat set at 77.
“But since women typically have less muscle mass and evaporate less heat through the pores in their skin, they might feel colder than men in a room with the same air temperature.” “Basically, men generate their own little heat islands, kind of like walking space heaters,” Dr.
When that heat evaporates, it warms up their skin, their clothes and the air just above the surface of their skin. Although men and women maintain an internal body temperature of 98.6 degrees, men typically have more muscle mass and generate more heat by using more calories to fuel those extra muscles. The body’s metabolism is responsible for the production of energy, including heat. They are trained to listen and partner with you to help you not only get healthy, but stay well. “Since women have a lower metabolic rate, they tend to produce less heat than men do, which makes them feel colder,” explains Rob Danoff, DO, an osteopathic family physician from Philadelphia.įocusing on preventive care, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, look beyond your symptoms to consider how environmental and lifestyle factors impact your health. The reason women might find themselves reaching for a sweater more often than men can be summed up in two words: metabolic rate.
The ongoing battle over the thermostat is an all-too-common scenario in many homes and offices. Why Do Women Typically Feel Colder Than Men?