Greater male variability in daily energy expenditure develops through puberty
Authors: Halsey Lewis G. , Careau Vincent , Ainslie Philip N. , Alemán-Mateo Heliodoro , Andersen Lene F. , Anderson Liam J. , Arab Leonore , Baddou Issad , Bandini Linda , Bedu-Addo Kweku , Blaak Ellen E. , Blanc Stephane , Bonomi Alberto G. , Bouten Carlijn V. C. , Bovet Pascal , Brage Soren , Buchowski Maciej S. , Butte Nancy F. , Camps Stephan G. , Casper Regina , Close Graeme L. , Colbert Lisa H. , Cooper Jamie A. , Cooper Richard , Dabare Prasangi , Das Sai Krupa , Davies Peter S. W. , Deb Sanjoy , Nyström Christine Delisle , Dietz William , Dugas Lara R. , Eaton Simon , Ekelund Ulf , Hamdouchi Asmaa El , Entringer Sonja , Forrester Terrence , Fudge Barry W. , Gillingham Melanie , Goris Annelies H. , Gurven Michael , Haisma Hinke , Hambly Catherine , Hoffman Daniel J. , Hoos Marije B. , Hu Sumei , Joonas Noorjehan , Joosen Annemiek , Katzmarzyk Peter , Kempen Kitty P. , Kimura Misaka , Kraus William E. , Kriengsinyos Wantanee , Kuriyan Rebecca , Kushner Robert F. , Lambert Estelle V. , Lanerolle Pulani , Larsson Christel L. , Lessan Nader , Löf Marie , Martin Corby K. , Matsiko Eric , Meijer Gerwin A. , Morehen James C. , Morton James P. , Must Aviva , Neuhouser Marian , Nicklas Theresa A. , Ojiambo Robert M. , Pietilainen Kirsi H. , Pitsiladis Yannis P. , Plange-Rhule Jacob , Plasqui Guy , Prentice Ross L. , Rabinovich Roberto , Racette Susan B. , Raichen David A. , Ravussin Eric , Redman Leanne , Reilly John J. , Reynolds Rebecca M. , Roberts Susan , Samaranayake Dulani , Sardinha Luís B. , Schuit Albertine J. , Silva Analiza M. , Sinha Srishti , Sjödin Anders M. , Stice Eric , Stunkard Albert , Urlacher Samuel S. , Valencia Mauro Eduardo , Valenti Giulio , van Etten Ludo M. , Van Mil Edgar A. , Verbunt Jeanine A. , Wells Jonathan C. K. , Wilson George , Wood Brian , Yoshida Tsukasa , Zhang Xueying , Murphy-Alford Alexia , Loechl Cornelia , Luke Amy , Pontzer Herman , Rood Jennifer , Sagayama Hiroyuki , Westerterp Klaas R. , Wong William W. , Yamada Yosuke , Speakman John R. ,   IAEA DLW Database Consortium
Published: September 2023

There is considerably greater variation in metabolic rates between men than between women, in terms of basal, activity and total (daily) energy expenditure (EE). One possible explanation is that EE is associated with male sexual characteristics (which are known to vary more than other traits) such as musculature and athletic capacity. Such traits might be predicted to be most prominent during periods of adolescence and young adulthood, when sexual behaviour develops and peaks. We tested this hypothesis on a large dataset by comparing the amount of male variation and female variation in total EE, activity EE and basal EE, at different life stages, along with several morphological traits: height, fat free mass and fat mass. Total EE, and to some degree also activity EE, exhibit considerable greater male variation (GMV) in young adults, and then a decrease in the degree of GMV in progressively older individuals. Arguably, basal EE, and also morphometrics, do not exhibit this pattern. These findings suggest that single male sexual characteristics may not exhibit peak GMV in young adulthood, however total and perhaps also activity EE, associated with many morphological and physiological traits combined, do exhibit GMV most prominently during the reproductive life stages.