FORCE OF NATURE

IT’S HARD to argue that women are physically stronger than men (although some certainly are — recent statistics have shown a spike in the number of female bodybuilders in the UK). On average, men have bigger builds, with more muscle compared to fat, and a more even fat distribution throughout their bodies. However, a fit woman generates the same force per unit of muscle as a similarly fit man; she just has a lower total muscle mass (as opposed to less muscle strength) so can’t lift the heaviest weights. Women’s legs may even be stronger than men’s, muscle for muscle. Comparing leg strength to lean body weight (that is, a person’s weight not including the weight of the fat on their body), women’s legs are actually 5.8 per cent stronger than men’s.