PROVE IT
Cold, hard facts about gender
October 31, 2009
THE CLAIM
Men and women differ in their tolerance to cold.
THE FACTS
As the temperature drops, are women more likely to turn up the thermostat than men? Scientists have tried to determine whether tolerance to cold is influenced by gender. Some researchers speculate that men should have a higher tolerance, resulting from a greater ratio of body mass to surface area, more heat-generating muscle and a higher metabolism. But the science is not so clear-cut.
One study in The Lancet looked at 219 people of all ages and found that the female subjects averaged higher core temperatures (97.8 degrees Fahrenheit versus 97.4 degrees) but colder hand temperatures (87.2 degrees versus 90 degrees). That could indicate a better ability to conserve body heat and protect vital organs. But less blood flow to the extremities would also mean a greater feeling of cold.
Then again, studies in which men and women are immersed in cold water have found that the body's reaction depends primarily on size and body fat. In other words, a man and a woman of equal size and body fat would show no physiological difference in their response. Some studies also indicate that women's perceptions of cold can vary during the menstrual cycle, with body temperatures rising and falling. But that, too, is widely debated.
Ultimately, so many other variables also play a role in core and peripheral temperatures – diet, activity levels, smoking, sleep – that there appears to be no clear answer.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The research is unclear on whether gender influences cold tolerance and perception.
The New York Times
Toronto Star
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