Which gender typically has a higher body water percentage?

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $4.99 payment

Prepare for the UCF APK4163 Final Exam in Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. Challenge yourself with multiple choice and flashcard questions, each providing hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam and boost your confidence!

Men typically have a higher body water percentage compared to women. This is largely due to differences in body composition; men generally have a greater proportion of lean muscle mass, which contains more water, while women tend to have a higher percentage of body fat, which contains less water. The average body water percentage for men is about 60-65%, whereas for women, it is approximately 50-60%.

In terms of the other groups, children have a higher body water percentage than adults, often surpassing 70%, because of their higher muscle mass relative to fat and their larger surface area to volume ratio, which means they can lose water more quickly. The elderly tend to have a lower body water percentage due to a decrease in muscle mass and an increase in body fat, leading to a reduction in total body water. Thus, men are the group that typically holds the highest percentage overall, making them the correct answer to this question.