Why do women have a harder time than men losing weight?

Addiction Specialist Mike Dow, PsyD, discusses why women legitimately have a harder time than men when trying to diet and lose weight.

Transcript

00:00

Women always ask me, why is it so hard for me to diet? There's actually an important difference

00:06

between women and men when it comes to dieting. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:15

Hi. My name is Dr. Mike Dow. I'm a psychotherapist specializing in disordered eating and addictive behaviors.

00:22

Women always ask me, why is it so hard for me to diet? There's actually an important difference

00:28

between women and men when it comes to dieting. Carbohydrates release serotonin in the brain.

00:34

Fat and protein release dopamine. There are some studies that suggest that women may need serotonin more than men, which

00:44

is why females may crave things like ice cream, bread, and pasta more so than men.

00:51

It's also why studies show that when going on a no-carbohydrate diet, men are not as prone to the mood swings as are the women.

01:00

One of the ways that women can make up for this is you be sure to add serotonin-boosting activities

01:06

to your life, like taking a walk, taking a bath. But also, find healthy ways to get serotonin.

01:14

These are sustainable carbohydrates that have a high satiety value, meaning they keep you fuller longer.

01:20

Whole fruits are fantastic. Why? Because they give you a sustainable release of serotonin. But with the fiber that they have in the skins,

01:28

they also give you a sense of being full. And that fullness will last for hours longer than a white carbohydrate.

01:36

Also, those whole grains, like quinoa, brown rice, are fantastic so that women, in particular, and men,

01:43

can be successful in achieving the health, the body, and the state of mind that they want. [AUDIO LOGO]