Yes, we all know that women and men are different. There’s no need to point out the obvious differences in physical structure, is there?

But let’s look beyond the obvious and explore the differences between the sexes when it comes to muscle. After all, this is a blog dedicated to fitness and exercise.

The biological makeup of muscles in women and men is basically the same. Muscle is muscle, no matter which body it’s in. But having said that, men are generally stronger. This has been linked to a combination of body fat and muscle mass – women tend to have more body fat and less muscle mass.

A study of the biceps brachii (the muscle in the front of the arm running between your shoulder and elbow) and vastus lateralis (the largest muscle of the upper thigh) conducted by researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton has proven this. They found that female participants were just over half as strong as male participants in the biceps, and about two thirds as strong in the lower body. The researchers also found that the males had muscles composed of larger fibres, which is what they believe resulted in their elevated level of strength.

However, despite the somewhat disheartening news, women are still able to build muscle and benefit from strength training in a similar manner as men. Strength training is an essential part of any exercise regimen, and should be performed to prevent a number of health problems including osteoporosis and decreasing the risk of injury. (And if you’re worried about “bulking up”, don’t be. Women usually don’t have enough testosterone to get so bulky. They usually need help in the form of supplements.)

Please note that this post is about the average woman and refers to generalities. Some women are indeed stronger or bulkier than the average guy, but when speaking in terms of the general population, they are an exception.