Why do women feel colder than men? 4 scientific reasons

With the arrival of cold spells and plummeting temperatures, the age-old debate about adjusting the air conditioning or heating temperature resurfaces in homes and offices. Women often complain of feeling cold while men feel comfortable or even warm in the same room. This difference isn't merely psychological or exaggerated; it's a biological reality confirmed by recent scientific studies, which have revealed a clear disparity in the mechanisms by which the body regulates temperature between the sexes.

A scientific study settles the debate

European researchers conducted detailed tests, the results of which were published on the ScienceDirect website, to measure differences in thermal perception. The results, based on the Panther's Temperature Index (PMV), showed that women tend to feel colder faster than men. When temperatures drop, the difference in average thermal perception and skin temperature between the sexes increases by 0.12 to 0.17 units, meaning that women's skin actually cools down more quickly.

4 main biological reasons

The study and accompanying medical research attributed this variation to four main physiological and anatomical factors:

• Metabolic rate: Men generally have a higher basal metabolic rate than women. Metabolism is the process of burning calories to produce energy, and this process generates internal heat that warms the body. A slower metabolism in women means less internal heat production.
• Muscle mass: Muscles are natural "engines" for generating heat, even at rest. Because men generally have a larger muscle mass than women, their bodies generate heat more efficiently, providing them with natural protection against the cold.
• Fat distribution and protection of vital organs: Although women may have a higher percentage of subcutaneous fat, their bodies are biologically programmed to conserve heat in the torso (to protect the uterus and internal organs). This mechanism reduces blood flow to the extremities (hands and feet) when cold, which explains why women's hands and feet tend to be noticeably colder than men's.
• Hormonal influence: Hormones, especially estrogen, play a pivotal role. Estrogen slightly thickens the blood and reduces its flow to peripheral capillaries when exposed to cold, thus increasing a woman's sensitivity to weather changes.

Effects of pregnancy and menstruation

It's not just basic genetic makeup that affects heat perception; different biological stages also play a role. Women are more sensitive to cold during certain times of their menstrual cycle due to fluctuating hormone levels. While pregnancy involves an increased metabolic rate that can generate heat, the second and third trimesters may see a rise in heat sensitivity.

Medical evidence also indicates that the menopausal transition causes a disruption in the body's temperature regulation, with women experiencing hot flashes followed by chills, making adaptation to external temperatures a constant challenge.

Historical context and its impact on the work environment

It is worth noting that this biological difference has economic and social dimensions. Historically, temperature standards in modern offices were established in the 1960s based on the metabolic rate of a 40-year-old man weighing approximately 70 kilograms. These outdated standards did not take into account the slower metabolic rate of women, which explains why female employees often feel cold in air-conditioned work environments, potentially impacting their productivity and comfort. This necessitates a re-evaluation of global climate control standards to make them more inclusive.