Researchers at Dokuz Eylul University have identified significant differences in how obesity affects the biological health of men and women.
Findings presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul reveal that men and women accumulate different types of physiological risks. While men show higher rates of abdominal fat and liver stress, women demonstrate higher levels of systemic inflammation and cholesterol.
Analyzing data from a clinic in Turkey, the research team tracked 886 women and 248 men between 2024 and 2025. The study measured everything from waist circumference to specific inflammatory markers and liver enzymes.
Men in the study presented with significantly larger waist circumferences, averaging 120cm compared to 108cm in women. They also showed higher levels of liver enzymes, including ALT and GGT, which often signal organ damage.
Distinct biological pathways
In contrast, women in the study exhibited higher total cholesterol and elevated LDL, often referred to as 'bad' cholesterol. They also showed higher counts of inflammatory indicators such as C-reactive protein and platelet counts.
"Our findings reveal intriguing differences in the way men and women respond to obesity," said lead author Dr. Zeynep Pekel of Dokuz Eylul University. She noted that these sex differences could serve as a stepping stone toward finding targeted, sex-based therapies.
Doctors believe these divergent patterns stem from differences in hormone regulation, immune system activity, and fat distribution. The study highlights why a one-size-fits-all approach to weight management may be ineffective.
These findings arrive as global rates of metabolic syndrome continue to rise. In 2023, approximately 1.54 billion adults worldwide lived with the condition, which includes high blood pressure and elevated blood glucose.
