Why women feel colder than men is a question many people have asked for years, especially in offices, homes, and public spaces where temperature debates never seem to end. While men often complain about heat, women are more likely to feel uncomfortable in cooler environments. According to recent scientific research, this difference is not a coincidence—it is rooted in biology.
A Common Experience With a Scientific Explanation
Why women feel colder than men has long been explained with jokes or stereotypes, but new research from scientists in Massachusetts shows that the real reasons go much deeper. The study examined how 28 healthy adult men and women responded to different temperatures. The results revealed that women tend to have a stronger physiological reaction to cold, especially at lower temperatures.
Researchers observed that women’s bodies respond more quickly to cold by reducing blood flow to the skin, a reaction often described as a “polar response.” This makes hands, feet, and the nose feel colder much faster than in men.
Resting Metabolic Rate Plays a Key Role
One of the main reasons why women feel colder than men is related to resting metabolic rate. Resting metabolic rate refers to the amount of energy the body uses while at rest to maintain essential functions such as breathing, blood circulation, and temperature regulation.
Dr. Robert Brychta, the lead author of the study, explained that women generally have a lower resting metabolic rate than men. This is largely because women tend to have smaller body sizes. Simply put, smaller bodies produce less heat. This rule applies to both genders—anyone with a smaller body frame is likely to feel colder.
Muscle Mass and Heat Production
Another important factor explaining why women feel colder than men is muscle mass. Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, even when the body is at rest. On average, men have about 23 percent higher metabolic rates than women because they typically have more muscle mass.
More muscle means more heat production. This allows men to maintain body temperature more easily, even in cooler environments. Women, having less muscle mass on average, produce less internal heat, making them more sensitive to cold.
Does Body Fat Help or Hurt?
Interestingly, body fat also plays a role in why women feel colder than men. The study found that people with higher body fat percentages actually have better natural insulation. Since women generally have higher body fat levels, this insulation can help reduce heat loss.
However, insulation alone is not enough to compensate for a lower metabolic rate. While body fat slows heat loss, it does not create heat. As a result, women with smaller body sizes and lower metabolism still tend to feel colder overall.
Three Main Factors That Affect Temperature Perception
The research identified three main factors that determine whether a person feels hot or cold:
- Body size
- Body type
- Body composition
Compared to a larger man, a smaller woman is more likely to feel cold because her body generates less heat and loses it faster. The same applies to very thin men with low body fat—they may also feel colder than larger individuals.
Hormones and Lifestyle Matter Too
Beyond biology, several external factors influence why women feel colder than men. Stress levels, smoking habits, diet, and hormonal birth control methods can all affect body temperature regulation. Hormonal fluctuations, in particular, can make women more sensitive to temperature changes at certain times of the month.
Previous studies also suggest that although women may have slightly higher core body temperatures, cold air feels sharper to them due to differences in blood flow and nerve sensitivity.
It’s Not Just in Your Head
In summary, why women feel colder than men is not a matter of imagination or preference. It is the result of natural biological and structural differences. Smaller body size, lower resting metabolic rate, and differences in muscle mass all contribute to this common experience.
So the next time there is a thermostat disagreement at work or at home, remember: feeling cold or warm is not random. It is a reflection of how each body produces and retains heat—and science finally backs it up.
