Question

Which of the following statements is true about water body content in men and women?

1) Men's bodies have a higher percent of water than women's because men have more muscle than women
2) Both women and men have the same percentage of water and muscle in their bodies
3) Women's bodies have a higher percentage of water than men's because women have more muscle than men

Answer 1

Men generally have a higher body water content than women due to having greater muscle mass and a lower percentage of body fat.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about body water content in men and women is that men's bodies typically have a higher percentage of water than women's bodies. This is because men usually have greater muscle mass and lower body fat percentages compared to women. Muscle tissue contains more water than fat tissue, and as a result, a higher muscle mass means a higher water content.

Specifically, water makes up about 50-60% of an adult's body weight and can be as high as 70% in lean individuals. Due to differences in body composition, with women typically having higher body fat content and men having more muscle mass, men tend to have a higher percentage of water in their bodies. In addition, gender differences in basal metabolic rate (BMR) are affected by these variations in muscle and fat content, with men generally having a higher BMR due to their greater muscle mass.