New research from Turkey shows that men with obesity tend to develop more abdominal fat and liver stress, while women exhibit higher inflammation and cholesterol levels. These findings, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, highlight sex-based differences that could inform personalized treatments. The study analyzed patients treated between 2024 and 2025.
A team from Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir examined 886 women, average age 45, and 248 men, average age 41, at their Obesity Clinic. Men had a higher body mass index of 37.5 kg/m² compared to 36 kg/m² for women, along with larger waist circumferences at 120 cm versus 108 cm and elevated systolic blood pressure of 128 mmHg against 122 mmHg. They also showed higher levels of liver enzymes ALT and GGT, triglycerides, and creatinine, indicating potential liver and metabolic issues, as well as greater visceral fat around organs linked to heart and metabolic diseases. Women, meanwhile, had elevated total cholesterol at 215 mg/dL versus 203 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol at 130 mg/dL versus 123 mg/dL. Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and platelet count were higher in women, suggesting a stronger immune response influenced by factors like hormones and genetics. Lead author Dr. Zeynep Pekel stated, 'Our findings reveal intriguing differences in the way men and women respond to obesity. They show just how important gender-specific research is.' Pekel added that biological factors, including oestrogen affecting fat storage and immune activity, likely explain these patterns, with men more prone to visceral fat. The cross-sectional study has limitations, including its focus on Turkish adults, and requires validation in larger, diverse groups. Pekel noted, 'It's still early days and these findings need to be confirmed in other patient groups.' The research was presented as abstract 1854 at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul from May 12-15.
