Final answer:
In young adults, males will on average have about 60% of their body weight composed of water, while females will have about 50%-55%, due to higher fat content and the role of hormones in female body composition.
Step-by-step explanation:
In young adults, the percentage of body weight composed of water will average about 60% for males and 50%-55% for females. Water content in the body varies between individuals due to factors such as age, sex, and body composition. Specifically, the proportion of body weight that is water tends to be higher in individuals with more muscle mass and lower in individuals with greater fat content. This is important to consider, as females generally have a higher fat mass, which is necessary for reproduction and influenced by hormonal levels.
The body distributes water as a major component of both intracellular and extracellular fluids. Intracellular fluid, which is the fluid within cells, accounts for about 50% of body weight in lean individuals. Extracellular fluids, which include interstitial fluid and blood plasma, represent about 20% of body weight. While men and women have varying amounts of blood volume—with men usually having 5 to 6 liters and women 4 to 5 liters—both genders have plasma that is about 92% water.
Ensuring adequate water intake is essential for normal bodily functions, and the Adequate Intake (AI) for water set by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine suggests higher intakes than the average consumption, accounting for water from all dietary sources.