One of the functions of these hormones is to alter
the balance of muscle and fat and to regulate the size of our bones.
For
women, estrogen is connected with the growth and development of the
female sex organs, as well as the body hair in the armpit and public
regions and the shape of the body contour.
For
men, testosterone determines the bone mass, causes the growth and
development of the male sex organs and the body hair in the public and
armpit regions, and also develops the voice. Testosterone is used for
determination of the muscle mass, and because men have higher levels of
testosterone than women, they also have more muscle mass.
Studies
show that men with more muscle mass burn calories faster than people
with less muscles. To visualize this process imagine that there are two
vehicles, one with 4-cylinder engine and one with 8-cylinder
engine.
The
vehicles’ engines are our muscles and the fuel is the gas
tank and the calories that we need. The two engines start with tank
full of fuel and travel 100 miles at 65 miles per hour.
At the end of the trip, the vehicle with the 4 cylinder has used an
eight of a tank fuel and the other one has used a quarter of a tank.
The larger engine consumes more fuel than the smaller one.
The same way muscles with more mass will burn more calories than
muscles with less mass. Because of that muscle mass is the basic
difference between men and women in the process of fat-burning and
weight loss.
