Women need more exercise than men

(NBC) - It is a pretty common complaint among women: No matter how much you exercise, you just cannot lose weight. Researchers said there is a scientific reason for this sort of despair among women who work out.

Exercise sets in motion various hormones that make people want to eat. This affects women more than men, because a woman's metabolism is almost a third slower than a man's.

Endocrinologist Ken Fujioka attributed women's weight loss woes to their slower metabolisms. Little changes like wanting to eat more from exercise would be enough to slow their weight loss and they might not be happy, he said.

This displeasure leads many women to give up on exercise too quickly.

"If people don't see results within the first couple weeks, and they're like, 'I'm not losing any weight and I'm doing all this stuff and I'm not losing weight,' then they stop, said Dawn Celapino, a personal trainer.

Fujioka and Celapino agree that the problem is most women just are not working out hard enough.

"If you really want to lose weight or maintain a lower weight with exercise, you really have to push the heart rate up," Fujioka said. "Get it up there to around 85 percent of maximum, which is high."

If walking is a woman's activity of choice, she is better off hitting the hills. Flat surfaces will not be a tough enough task. And workouts should not be a social occasion.

"I see women in the gym talking to their friends, lifting five pounds," said Celapino, who recommends interval training. "If you can walk on a treadmill or you can walk on a Stairmaster and read a book, you're not working out hard enough."

Eating healthy is also important. The endocrinologist said a proper diet is more quickly satisfying to the post-workout appetite.