Table of Contents
TheDigger Intelligence Unit
A Joint Struggle, Different Battles
Obesity is usually seen as a global health crisis, but the reality is more complex. Men and women experience obesity differently.
New research from the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul shows that the disease affects each sex in unique ways, leading to different health risks and outcomes.
Mehmet, a 42-year-old patient at the Obesity Clinic in Izmir, Turkey, faced more than just a high number on the scale.
Doctors found that his belly fat was pressing against his internal organs, which is a risky type of fat linked to heart disease and diabetes.
His blood tests also showed high liver enzymes, indicating his liver was under stress.
Ayşe, 45, had a different problem. She was less at risk for dangerous belly fat, but her blood tests showed high cholesterol and ongoing inflammation.
These hidden issues increased her chances of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. While both Mehmet and Ayşe had obesity, their bodies were dealing with it in very different ways.
Belly Fat and Liver Stress in Men
Researchers at Dokuz Eylul University studied data from over 1,100 patients, including 886 women and 248 men, treated between 2024 and 2025.
They found that men with obesity usually had more belly fat, the type that surrounds important organs. This kind of fat is especially dangerous because it disrupts metabolism and raises the risk of heart disease.
Men also had higher blood pressure and raised levels of liver enzymes like ALT and GGT. These signs point to liver stress and possible damage, adding more risk.
In summary, men’s bodies were dealing with fat pressing on organs and signs of metabolic strain.
Inflammation and Cholesterol in Women
Women, on the other hand, showed a different pattern. Their blood tests revealed higher levels of total cholesterol and LDL, which is often called “bad” cholesterol. High cholesterol is a well-known risk for heart disease.
More strikingly, women showed even stronger signs of inflammation. Markers such as C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were often elevated, suggesting ongoing inflammation.
This, along with high cholesterol, increases the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. One’s genetics help explain these differences.
Estrogen influences fat storage, pushing women toward subcutaneous fat—fat stored beneath the skin—rather than visceral fat. It also affects immune function, further increasing inflammation.
The X chromosome also has a role, giving women a more active immune system that can fuel inflammatory responses.
Men, on the other hand, are more likely to have visceral fat, which is more dangerous for metabolism. This fat surrounds organs, disrupts how they work, and is strongly linked to metabolic problems.
Dr Zeynep Pekel, the lead author of the study, believes these findings could change how obesity is treated. “Sex differences are a powerful player in the pathology of obesity,” she explained. “Our results could be a basis for targeted therapies customised to men and women.”
A Worldwide Health Challenge
These findings come at a time when the world is facing a growing health crisis. In 2023, about 1.54 billion adults worldwide had metabolic syndrome, which includes risks like belly fat, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. That’s about one in three women and one in four men.
Obesity is a complex, long-term disease that involves changes in metabolism, inflammation, and how fat is stored. Still, it is often treated as if it affects everyone the same way, without much focus on differences between men and women. This research shows that this approach might be too simple.
Stories Behind the Science
For patients like Mehmet and Ayşe, these findings mean their treatments are quite different. Mehmet’s doctors are working to reduce his belly fat and protect his liver.
Ayşe’s care focuses on lowering her cholesterol and reducing inflammation. Their stories show why treating everyone with obesity the same way may not work.
She was surprised when her doctor explained that her cholesterol and inflammation posed greater risks than her weight alone. “I thought losing kilos was the only goal,” she said. “But now I understand my blood tells another story.”
Mehmet, meanwhile, describes the shock of learning that his belly fat was more dangerous than he realised. “I always thought fat was fat,” he said. “I didn’t know where it was stored, but it could cause such a change.”
Limitations and Following Steps
The study does have some limits. Because it was cross-sectional, it cannot show cause and effect. Also, most of the people studied were of Turkish background, so it is unclear if the results apply to other groups. Bigger and more diverse studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Still, the results are strong enough to warrant further research. They show that obesity is not just one disease, but is shaped by biology, hormones, and the immune system. Understanding these differences could lead to better, more personalised treatments.
The main point is clear: obesity does not affect everyone the same way. Men and women face different challenges, and their health risks depend on both biology and lifestyle.
For doctors, this means treatment needs to change. For patients, it means knowing that each person’s experience with obesity is unique.
As Dr Pekel put it, “It’s still early days, but these findings deliver important insight into how obesity may affect men and women differently.
Our following steps are to replicate these findings in larger populations and investigate how these patterns relate to clinical risk.”
For Mehmet and Ayşe, this science is already part of their lives. Their stories show that behind every number are real people whose bodies react to obesity in different ways.
These differences highlight why we need to move past a one-size-fits-all approach and focus on personalised care. By understanding these unique journeys, we can create better ways to prevent and treat obesity, and face this urgent health challenge with the care and detail it deserves.
