Do women feel the cold more than men?

The More or Less podcast investigates the common observation that women often find office temperatures too cold. The host interviews Gail Brager, Director of the Center for Environmental Design Research at UC Berkeley, and Boris Kingma, a senior researcher, to explore the scientific basis for this phenomenon. They discuss the differences in metabolic rates between men and women, the impact of factors like age and hormones (particularly estrogen), and the influence of societal expectations on clothing choices. The discussion reveals that while women tend to have lower metabolic rates and higher surface area to mass ratios, leading to greater heat loss, individual experiences vary. The podcast concludes by suggesting solutions such as raising office temperatures and providing personal fans, and highlighting the energy waste associated with current office temperature practices.