Gender Differences In Obesity Research Articles

Female obesity: clinical and psychological assessment toward the best treatment.

Obesity is a heterogeneous condition which results from complex interactions among sex/gender, sociocultural, environmental, and biological factors. Obesity is more prevalent in women in most developed countries, and several clinical and psychological obesity complications show sex-specific patterns. Females differ regarding fat distribution, with males tending to store more visceral fat, which is highly correlated to increased cardiovascular risk. Although women are more likely to be diagnosed with obesity and appear more motivated to lose weight, as confirmed by their greater representation in clinical trials, males show better outcomes in terms of body weight and intra-abdominal fat loss and improvements in the metabolic risk profile. However, only a few relatively recent studies have investigated gender differences in obesity, and sex/gender is rarely considered in the assessment and management of the disease. This review summarizes the evidence of gender differences in obesity prevalence, contributing factors, clinical complications, and psychological challenges. In addition, we explored gender differences in response to obesity treatments in the specific context of new anti-obesity drugs.

Obesity: a gender-view.

There is a growing awareness of the importance of understanding gender differences in obesity. The aim of this short review was to revise the current evidence on anthropometric characteristics and nutritional and pharmacological aspects of obesity from a gender perspective. A literature search within PubMed was performed. Selected publications related to obesity and gender differences were reviewed. The prevalence of obesity among men is higher than in women, but women have a higher percentage of body fat content compared to men, and gender appears to be an important factor in the manifestation of central (android) or peripheral (gynoid) obesity. In addition, while in most clinical trials, women are still underrepresented, in clinical registration trials of anti-obesity drugs, women are commonly up-represented and gender-specific analysis is uncommon. Considering that adipose tissue is one of the factors affecting the volume of distribution of many drugs, mainly lipophilic drugs, gender differences might be expected in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anti-obesity drugs. Indeed, although Liraglutide 3mg, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, and naltrexone/bupropion display lipophilic properties, currently, a gender-dose adjustment for both these drugs administration is not recommended. In addition, despite that predicted responders to treatment offer substantial opportunities for efficient use, especially of expensive new therapies, such as anti-obesity drugs, data on gender differences to identify early responders to both these have not yet been investigated. Finally, bariatric surgery gender disparity reflects healthcare practices. Weight loss similar, but differing effects: women need more correction and face psychology challenges; men have worse physiology and fewer comorbidity improvements. Gender differences exist in obesity prevalence and phenotype, body fat distribution, drug efficacy, clinical trial representation, and different secondary effects of bariatric surgery. Gender is an important variable in obesity analysis.

Sex Difference is a Determinant of Gut Microbes and Their Metabolites SCFAs/MCFAs in High Fat Diet Fed Rats.

There are gender differences in obesity and related metabolic diseases, but the mechanism of these differences has not been elucidated. Gut microbiota has been recently recognized as a pivotal determinant of obesity and related diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate sex differences in gut microbiota and its metabolites in an obesity rat model induced by prolonged high-fat-diet (HFD) feeding. In this study, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed normal chow or HFD for 16weeks (n = 8 for each group). We found that comparing with male rats on HFD (MHFD), female rats on HFD (FHFD) gained more body weight percentage, while had lower body weight gain efficiency and less severity of hepatic steatosis. HFD induced decreased taxon diversity and richness of gut microbiota, and FHFD group had even lower diversity than MHFD group. Among key genera, HFD induced increased Bilophila in male rats but not in female rats. Compared with the MHFD group, FHFD group possessed increases of Akkermansia and Murimonas, and decreases of Acetanaerobacterium, Bacteroides, Bilophila, Blautia and Romboutsia. The levels of total SCFAs in colon contents were increased in tendency in HFD-fed rats of both sexes. FHFD group had increased propionate and decreased ratio of acetate to propionate and butyrate than MHFD group. For MCFAs, HFD induced increases in undecanoic acid and lauric acid in female rats but not in males. In conclusion, HFD induced sex-related alterations in gut microbiome and short/medium-chain fatty acids in rats.

Racial, ethnic, and gender differences in obesity and body fat distribution: An All of Us Research Program demonstration project.

Differences in obesity and body fat distribution across gender and race/ethnicity have been extensively described. We sought to replicate these differences and evaluate newly emerging data from the All of Us Research Program (AoU). We compared body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio from the baseline physical examination, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) from the electronic health record in up to 88,195 Non-Hispanic White (NHW), 40,770 Non-Hispanic Black (NHB), 35,640 Hispanic, and 5,648 Asian participants. We compared AoU sociodemographic variable distribution to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data and applied the pseudo-weighting method for adjusting selection biases of AoU recruitment. Our findings replicate previous observations with respect to gender differences in BMI. In particular, we replicate the large gender disparity in obesity rates among NHB participants, in which obesity and mean BMI are much higher in NHB women than NHB men (33.34 kg/m2 versus 28.40 kg/m2 respectively; p<2.22x10-308). The overall age-adjusted obesity prevalence in AoU participants is similar overall but lower than the prevalence found in NHANES for NHW participants. ALT was higher in men than women, and lower among NHB participants compared to other racial/ethnic groups, consistent with previous findings. Our data suggest consistency of AoU with national averages related to obesity and suggest this resource is likely to be a major source of scientific inquiry and discovery in diverse populations.

Quantifying gender inequalities in obesity: findings from the Turkish population-based Balcova Heart Study

ObjectivesSparse evidence is available to explain obesity variations between genders in the Turkish population. To our knowledge, no previous study has analysed the magnitude of gender differences in obesity using common social determinants of health. We aimed to quantify gender inequalities in obesity in terms of education, employment status, occupation and perceived income in a Turkish population. Study designThe study design used is a cross-sectional study. MethodsPopulation-based data from the Balcova Heart Study (n = 16,080) were analysed. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) when comparing obesity prevalence in women vs men within each category of social determinants. ResultsWomen had a higher risk of being obese than men (adjusted OR [aOR] = 2.04 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.7–2.1]). Gender inequality in obesity decreased as the level of education increased, from ‘primary school’ (aOR = 2.5 [95% CI: 2.2–2.8]) to ‘university’ (aOR = 0.9 [95% CI: 0.6–1.1]). Women had a higher risk of obesity within the ‘unemployed’ category compared with men (aOR = 2.2 [95% CI: 1.6–3.0]). Gender inequality in obesity decreased with a higher perception of income, from ‘low’ (aOR = 2.1 [95% CI: 1.6–3.0]) to ‘high’ (aOR = 1.5 [95% CI: 1.2–2.0]). ConclusionsThese findings highlight the fact that gender inequalities in obesity are greatest within populations of low education, unemployment and lower perception of income. Reduced gender inequality in obesity prevalence was seen for the subpopulation with professional occupations, with women having decreased odds of obesity compared with men. Conversely, unemployed women had increased odds of obesity compared with unemployed men. Increasing the status of women should be prioritised in policies to tackle obesity in the Turkish population and in similar developing populations elsewhere.

Age group and gender-wise comparison of obesity indices in subjects of Varanasi

Objectives: Deposition of body fat may differ in different age groups and gender-wise differences are also likely. The present study aims to evaluate age- and gender-wise differences in obesity parameters in healthy subjects of both genders of Varanasi. Materials and Methods: Anthropometric measurements were performed in 346 subjects reported in health check-up camp. Parameters were compared between each age group for males and females separately as well as gender-wise comparison for each age group was also performed. Regression analysis was performed to observe the relationship of age with obesity parameters and body mass index (BMI) with other parameters of obesity. Results: Both males and females had central obesity with males having higher waist circumference (WC) than females (P = 0.002) while females had higher body fat (fat %) (P = 0.000). Obesity indices of males of age group of 18–29 years were lesser as compared to other age groups. Obesity indices of female subjects were comparable in 18–39 years of age. Age group of 30–39 and 50–59 years males had higher WC than females (P = 0.002, 0.016, respectively) while fat % of females in each age group were significantly higher than males of corresponding age groups. Positive correlation of age with obesity parameters and BMI with WC and fat % was observed. Conclusion: Gender-wise differences in BMI, WC, WHtR and fat % tend to increase with age, indicative of increase in adiposity and central obesity with progressing age. Males in general have higher WC than females but lesser fat %. Gender differences in obesity may show age group specific variations. Findings of the study may be useful for identifying age specific distribution of obesity indices in males and females.

Are there race and gender differences in obesity, overall fitness and physical activity in high school physical education students?

Are there race and gender differences in obesity, overall fitness and physical activity in high school physical education students?

Obesity and serum uric acid in secondary school-age students of srinagarindra the princess mother school, Phayao, Thailand.

Obesity and hyperuricemia are the precipitating factors of multiple disease processes. Studies on the relationship between obesity and hyperuricemia in Thai adolescents are limited. The objective is to investigate the gender differences in obesity and serum uric acid as well as the relationship between obesity and serum uric acid levels in secondary school-age students. A cross-sectional study conducted among 689 secondary school-age students; 313 boys and 376 girls. Body composition and fasting serum uric acid were assessed. This study defined hyperuricemia as serum uric acid >6 mg/dL in girls and >7 mg/dL in boys. By body mass index (BMI) for age and percentage of body fat classification, the prevalences of obesity were 11.5% and 9.0%, respectively. Prevalence of obesity by BMI for age, 15.3% and percentage of body fat, 12.4% in boys were statistically significantly higher than those in girls, 8.2% and 6.1%, respectively. Boys in all age groups had statistically significantly higher serum uric acid levels than those in girls as well as serum uric acid levels at late adolescent period in both sexes were statistically significantly higher than those at early adolescent period. On multivariate analysis, the demographic factors studied showed that boys, late adolescence period, and excess body fat adolescents had higher prevalence of hyperuricemia in secondary school-age students who have their birthplace in 8 provinces of Northern Thailand. This indicated that early nutritional management and encourage obese adolescents to weight and serum uric acid reductions are important for the prevention of diet-related chronic diseases in their adult period.

Gender Differences of Behavioral Risk Factors in Saint-Petersburg Inhabitants

In developed countries there are significant gender differences in lifetime expectancy that can be explained by behavioral risk factors (RF). The aim of our study was to estimate gender features of behavioral RF in general population of Saint-Petersburg, Russia. As a part of all-Russian epidemiology survey ESSE-RF a random sampling of 1600 Saint-Petersburg inhabitants (25-64 y.o.) stratified by age and sex was performed. All participants filled in the questionnaire. Anthropometry (weight, height, body-mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and fasting blood-tests (lipids, glucose by Abbott Architect 8000 (USA)) were performed. There were examined 573 (36%) men and 1027 (64%) women. No gender differences in obesity were found according to BMI criteria--in 178 (31.2%) women and 352 (35.1%) men. Obesity was more often detected in females according to WC criteria: ATPIII--44.1 vs 30.3%; IDF 51.2 vs 66.4% (p < 0.001 for both). Linear regression analysis was performed and age was associated with BMI--1.6 kg/m2/decade, WC in women--5.2 cm/decade and WC in men--2.8 cm/decade, p < 0.001 for all anthropometric parameters. Optimal level of physical activity was equally documented in both genders--540 (61.2%) women and 286 (58.9%) men. Daily intake of sweets was lower in men--228 (39.8%) vs 539 (52.5%) in women (p < 0.001). 810 (50.6%) of trial subjects were non-smokers, 395 (24.7%) were former smokers, and 395 (24.7%) were smokers at the moment of trial. The higher number of female smokers was observed--194 (19.1%). A high prevalence of obesity is observed in sample of Saint-Petersburg inhabitants--it is higher among women according to WC criteria regardless of menopause, possibly due to bigger sweets consumption. Males smoke more often and consume less fresh fruits and vegetables which is accompanied by a higher prevalence of hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia.

Expression of Obesity Markers and Persistent Organic Pollutants Levels in Adipose Tissue of Obese Patients: Reinforcing the Obesogen Hypothesis?

IntroductionPersistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) accumulate in adipose tissue and some are described to possess endocrine disrupting capacities. Therefore, it is important to evaluate their effects on key endocrine pathways in adipose tissue (AT), to further evaluate their potential role in metabolic pathologies such as obesity.ObjectivesThe aim is twofold: (i) evaluate gene expression levels of obesity marker genes, i.e. the adipokines leptin (LEP), adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα) and the nuclear receptor, Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) in paired subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) AT of obese subjects (n = 50) and to relate these values to serum concentrations of LEP and ADIPOQ (ii) evaluate the association of expression levels of marker genes in AT and serum with POP concentrations in AT.Results and ConclusionsLeptin and adiponectin levels in serum were positively correlated to respectively expression levels of leptin in SAT and adiponectin in VAT. Our study shows more significant correlations between gene expression of obesity marker genes and POP concentrations in VAT compared to SAT. Since VAT is more important than SAT in pathologies associated with obesity, this suggests that POPs are able to influence the association between obesity and the development of associated pathologies. Moreover, this finding reveals the importance of VAT when investigating the obesogen hypothesis. Concerning PPARγ expression in VAT, negative correlations with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) concentrations were found in non T2D patients. LEP serum concentrations correlated with several PCBs in women whereas in men no correlations were found. This strengthens the potential importance of gender differences in obesity and within the obesogen hypothesis.

Race and Gender Differences in Obesity and Disease

The objective of the present study was to examine race and gender differences in obesity and disease overtime. This topic is under studies in racial/ethnic minority populations. Yet, gender differences in health within ethnic groups provide a more nuanced approach to health disparities. The analyses for this study were based on two waves of data (Wave1, 1986 and Wave 2, 1989) of the Americans’ Changing Lives Survey. The results revealed that a larger percentage of females are obese compared to males across all racial groups and females suffer a higher prevalence of disease compared to males which persists across time. The implications for cumulative disadvantage theory, feminist theory and the measurement of BMI and body fat are discussed.

The Role of Estrogen in Gender Differences in Adipocyte Biology

BackgroundIt has been established that males and females differ in their adipose tissue deposition; however, a full understanding of the adipocyte biology involved is needed. The objective of our study is to explore the role estrogen plays in gender differences in obesity, specifically in adipocyte biology.MethodsTo determine the role of estrogen in gender differences in the susceptibility to obesity we used C57BL/6J mice (15/group): 1) males 2) nonovariectomized females 3) ovariectomized females and 4) ovariectomized females supplemented with estrogen, which were randomized to the following diets: 30% calorie‐restricted, low‐fat or high‐fat diet. We measured weight gain, percent body fat, abdominal adipose tissue, and adipocyte size. Additionally, we assessed adipocyte biology by using QRTPCR to detect mRNA levels of key adipocyte biology genes.ResultsMale mice were more susceptible to diet induced obesity compared to female mice. Removal of the ovaries caused the female mice to mimic the males' susceptibility to obesity, and supplementation of estrogen to the ovariectomized females restored their protection to obesity. In the high‐fat diet groups, males and ovariectomized females gained more abdominal adipose tissue due to increased adipocyte size. Moreover, males and ovariectomized females had significantly higher peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma and leptin mRNA levels. Male mice also had significantly higher lipin1 and Ccaat‐enhancer‐binding protein‐beta mRNA levels compared to intact females and ovariectomized females supplemented with estrogen.ConclusionEstrogen protects female mice from obesity by modulating adipocyte biology thru key adipogenic genes.Grant Support: This work was supported by American Cancer Society grant.

Evidence of gender differences in the ability to inhibit brain activation elicited by food stimulation

Although impaired inhibitory control is linked to a broad spectrum of health problems, including obesity, the brain mechanism(s) underlying voluntary control of hunger are not well understood. We assessed the brain circuits involved in voluntary inhibition of hunger during food stimulation in 23 fasted men and women using PET and 2-deoxy-2[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose ((18)FDG). In men, but not in women, food stimulation with inhibition significantly decreased activation in amygdala, hippocampus, insula, orbitofrontal cortex, and striatum, which are regions involved in emotional regulation, conditioning, and motivation. The suppressed activation of the orbitofrontal cortex with inhibition in men was associated with decreases in self-reports of hunger, which corroborates the involvement of this region in processing the conscious awareness of the drive to eat. This finding suggests a mechanism by which cognitive inhibition decreases the desire for food and implicates lower ability to suppress hunger in women as a contributing factor to gender differences in obesity.

Biocultural aspects of gender differences in body composition and obesity during childhood and adolescence

Gender differences in body composition, the prevalence in overweight and obesity as well as in physical activity patterns were tested among 3003 children and adolescents aging between 6 and 18 years (x = 12.1 +/- 3.6) in Vienna and rural parts of Eastern Austria. As to be expected, the absolute and relative amount of body fat was significantly higher among girls of nearly all age groups, while boys exhibited a significantly higher amount of lean or fat free body mass. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was markedly higher among prepubertal girls, however significantly lower among younger and older adolescent girls aging 11 years and older in comparison to their male counterparts. This was however only true of adolescents originating from Austria. Considering adolescents with a background of migration originating from Turkey or the Near East, a significantly higher amount of overweight and/or obesity was found among girls. Therefore, biocultural factors have to be considered to explain gender differences in obesity during childhood and adolescence.

Gender differences in obesity among preschool children in Ibaraki prefecture

Gender differences in obesity among preschool children in Ibaraki prefecture