Study Reveals Sex-Specific Health Patterns in Obesity

A study presented at a recent medical conference has identified distinct patterns in cardiometabolic and inflammatory markers between men and women with obesity. The research, which analyzed data from over 1,100 individuals, found men were more likely to have indicators of abdominal fat and elevated liver enzymes, while women were more likely to show signs of systemic inflammation and high cholesterol.

The lead researcher stated the findings highlight the importance of sex-specific research for developing targeted management strategies.

Study Overview and Methodology

The research was presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO), held in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 12 to 15. The study was conducted by a team from Dokuz Eylul University in Turkey.

Researchers analyzed data from 1,134 adults with obesity who attended the university's Obesity Clinic between 2024 and 2025. The cohort consisted of:

• 886 women, with an average age of 45.
• 248 men, with an average age of 41.

All participants underwent a standardized assessment, which included:

• Physical measurements: Height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure.
• Blood tests to evaluate:
  • Cardiovascular risk factors, including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose.
  • Liver function markers, specifically alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT).
  • Kidney function via creatinine levels.
  • Inflammatory parameters, including C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count, and platelet count.

Key Findings

The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in health markers between the male and female participants with obesity.

Men in the study showed a higher susceptibility to developing abdominal (visceral) fat and had elevated levels of liver enzymes (ALT and GGT). Elevated liver enzymes can be an indicator of liver stress or damage.

Women in the study showed a higher likelihood of developing systemic inflammation, as measured by markers like CRP, and had higher cholesterol levels.

Researcher Commentary and Context

Lead author Dr. Zeynep Pekel commented on the findings.

"Our findings reveal differences in the way men and women respond to obesity. They show just how important gender-specific research is. Not only are sex differences a powerful player in the pathology and course of obesity, but our results indicate that such differences could be a stepping stone toward finding targeted, sex-based therapies to help in the management of people living with obesity."

The study was situated within the broader context of global metabolic health. In 2023, an estimated 1.54 billion adults worldwide were living with metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions including abdominal obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and elevated blood sugar that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Obesity is recognized as a complex chronic disease characterized by varied metabolic and inflammatory responses. Biological sex is known to influence adipose tissue distribution, hepatic metabolism, and systemic inflammatory activity. The researchers noted that prior to this study, comprehensive sex-based profiling of these specific cardiometabolic and inflammatory markers in adults with obesity had been lacking.