What factor may influence how alcohol is metabolized in women compared to men?

The metabolism of alcohol in women can be significantly influenced by fat tissue composition. Women generally have a higher percentage of body fat compared to men, and since alcohol is water-soluble but not fat-soluble, this difference impacts how alcohol is processed in the body.

In essence, because alcohol does not distribute well in fat tissue, women tend to experience higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels than men after consuming the same amount of alcohol, due to their generally lower total body water content. This physiological difference means that, for women, a higher proportion of alcohol remains in the bloodstream rather than being diluted in body water, ultimately affecting how quickly and effectively their bodies metabolize alcohol.

Other factors, such as weight, age, and height, do play a role in alcohol metabolism, but they are less directly correlated with the fundamental physiological differences represented by fat tissue composition.