BATTLE OF THE SEXES: ARE MEN REALLY STRONGER THAN WOMEN WHEN COMPARING THEIR FAT FREE MASS?

Megan K. Layman , Sara E. Martin, & Shannon E. Kennedy; University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri The comparison between males and females has always been apparent, especially in the aspect of strength. The current experiment is designed to test this comparison. PURPOSE: The purpose of this experiment was to compare the lean muscle efficiency of ROTC females versus ROTC males. METHODS: Fourteen ROTC subjects volunteered for this study, (eight males and six females). The subjects were (age 20 ± 3 years) all members of the ROTC program at the University of Central Missouri. A Bod Pod test was performed to estimate body fat as well as a treadmill test relative to lean muscle mass, to determine maximum oxygen consumption. A treadmill and a Pavaromedics Metabolic Cart was used to measure and consisted of the subjects running until volitional exhaustion. RESULTS: The results from these tests were used to determine consumed relative to fat free mass (FFM) in order to compare the two sexes. The data collected indicated that males had an efficiency ratio of 61 ± 5.21 ml/kgFFM/min and females had an efficiency ratio of 61.18 ± 5.21 ml/kgFFM/min. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that females’ lean muscle were equally as efficient as males’ when body fat was absent from data collection