Do men sweat more than women? Turns out that, in general, men do sweat more. And, at a faster rate to boot. From an evolutionary perspective, men developed a more efficient way to cool off given that they were more physically active (don't get me wrong here - we are talking way back in time). For example, they were more likely to be outdoors involved in activities such as hunting. Greater exposure to heat and a more active lifestyle helped develop a more efficient means of reducing body temperature when needed. |
On the other hand, women tended to be engaged in relatively less physically demanding activities (e.g. rearing of children, etc.) and as a result evolved to sweat less then men. While this may seem more appealing to some, sweating less does come with a few drawbacks. Women tend to be at greater risk of heat stroke or exhaustion. Their smaller body size/surface area along with a less efficient cooling mechanism makes them at greater risk of dehydration. |