Question

Why is the metabolic rate of women, in general, lower than that of men? What is the effect of clothing on the environmental temperature that feels comfortable?

Short answer

Short answer: Men generally have a higher metabolic rate than women because they have more muscle mass and less body fat, requiring more energy for maintenance. Additionally, men's larger size contributes to their higher metabolic rate. As for the comfortable environmental temperature, it is influenced by clothing since it traps a layer of air between the skin and the material, providing insulation and conserving body heat. The more insulating the clothing is, the lower the temperature can be for a person to feel comfortable. In contrast, if the clothing is not insulating enough, or the environmental temperature is too high, a person may feel too hot. Thus, clothing significantly affects the comfortable environmental temperature.

Step-by-step solution

Define Metabolic Rate

Metabolic rate is the amount of energy the body uses to maintain basic physiological functions, such as breathing, blood circulation, and cell production. It is often expressed in terms of calories per unit of time, such as calories per day.

Discuss the Difference in Metabolic Rate between Men and Women

In general, men have a higher metabolic rate than women due to differences in body composition and size. Men usually have more muscle mass and less body fat than women, which results in higher energy expenditure. Muscle requires more energy to maintain than fat, hence men have a higher metabolic rate. Additionally, men are generally larger than women, resulting in a greater surface area and volume, which also contributes to a higher metabolic rate.

Define Comfortable Environmental Temperature

A comfortable environmental temperature is the temperature at which a person feels neither too hot nor too cold, and can maintain their body's core temperature without significant energy expenditure for thermoregulation. This temperature can vary between individuals and depends on factors such as clothing, humidity, and individual preferences.

Explain the Effect of Clothing on Comfortable Environmental Temperature

Clothing acts as insulation, trapping a layer of air between the skin and the clothing material. This layer of air conserves body heat and prevents it from being lost to the environment. The more insulating the clothing is, the less heat the body loses to the environment, and the lower the environmental temperature can be for a person to feel comfortable. On the other hand, if the clothing is not insulating enough or the environmental temperature is high, the body may overheat, and the person may feel too hot. Consequently, the type and amount of clothing a person wears significantly affect the environmental temperature at which they feel comfortable.