Final answer:
Women generally have higher body fat and lower water content than men, due to physiological and hormonal differences. Men have greater muscle mass and lower body fat percentage, contributing to a higher basal metabolic rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, women's bodies contain more fat and less water than men's bodies. The physiological differences between men and women result in variations in body composition. Men tend to have a greater muscle mass and a lower percentage of body fat, which contributes to them having a higher basal metabolic rate than women. Women, on the other hand, tend to have more fat mass, which is essential for reproductive functions and influenced by hormonal levels.
Water makes up a significant portion of the adult body weight, with higher fat content inversely related to water content. Therefore, individuals with higher fat mass, such as women on average, tend to have slightly less water percentage. Knowledge of these differences is essential in understanding body composition and metabolism, as well as in designing personalized nutrition and fitness programs.