Heatwaves Kill More Women, But It's Not Biology That's to Blame A recent spate of heatwaves across Europe has highlighted a disturbing trend: more women are dying from the heat than men.
The initial reaction has been to blame biology – hormones, body fat, and sweat rates have all been cited as reasons why women seem more vulnerable to heat stress.
However, researchers say this narrative is oversimplified and even wrong. In 2022, a study found that in 35 countries across Europe, there were 56% more heat related deaths among women than men.