When life is tough, women are tougher (than men)

 

Now, it doesn't take much to convince me that women are tougher than man. After all, women give birth. Men have kidney stones in their urinary ducts. Not quite the same.

So, the results of this study shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

Are Women More Metabolically Efficient Under Extreme Conditions?
Findings from an Arctic winter expedition indicate greater metabolic efficiency in women under such extreme conditions.

"Strength, power, speed, and endurance are typically between 10% and 30% greater in males compared to females. However, recent work suggests a shrinking reduction in the performance gap between the sexes as the distance and/or duration increases. Here we address this important issue in our recent study. Using the doubly labeled water method, we reported lower total energy expenditure relative to load carriage in women compared to men during the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Ski Classic – a remote and unsupported 200km Arctic winter expedition. These findings indicate greater metabolic efficiency in women under such extreme conditions."

Reference:  

Coker MS, Ravelli MN, Shriver TC, et al. Sex-specific energy expenditure during the Alaska mountain wilderness ski classic; insights from an Arctic winter expedition. Front Physiol. 2025;16:1543834. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1543834

But hey, we always knew they were tough.