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Men and women with obesity face very different hidden health risks

Obesity doesn’t impact everyone the same—men tend to accumulate riskier belly fat, while women show higher inflammation and cholesterol.

Date:

April 13, 2026

Source:

European Association for the Study of Obesity

Summary:

New research reveals that obesity affects men and women in surprisingly different ways. Men are more likely to develop harmful abdominal fat and signs of liver stress, while women show higher inflammation and cholesterol levels. These differences could help explain why health risks vary between sexes. Scientists say this could lead to more tailored treatments for obesity.

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Men and women with obesity face very different hidden risks—and it could change how we treat the disease. Credit: Shutterstock

New findings presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul, Turkey (May 12-15) highlight clear differences in how obesity affects men and women. The research shows that risks related to heart health, metabolism, and inflammation do not develop in the same way across sexes. These insights could help doctors design more personalized treatment strategies.

A research team from Dokuz Eylul University in Turkey found that men with obesity are more likely to accumulate abdominal (visceral) fat. This type of fat surrounds internal organs and is strongly linked to serious heart and metabolic conditions. Men in the study also showed higher levels of liver enzymes, which may signal liver damage. Women with obesity, on the other hand, were more likely to experience widespread inflammation and elevated cholesterol levels, both of which raise the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

"Our findings reveal intriguing differences in the way men and women respond to obesity," said lead author Dr. Zeynep Pekel, from Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey. "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."

A Global Health Challenge With Complex Risks

In 2023, about 1.54 billion adults worldwide were living with metabolic syndrome (around 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men). This condition includes a group of major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, such as abdominal obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and raised fasting plasma glucose.[1]

Obesity itself is a complex chronic disease that affects the body in many ways. It involves changes in metabolism and inflammation, and these changes can vary widely between individuals. Biological sex plays a role in where fat is stored, how the liver processes nutrients, and how the immune system responds. However, detailed comparisons of these differences between men and women with obesity have been limited.

Study Examines Sex-Based Differences in Obesity

To better understand these patterns, researchers analyzed data from 886 women (average age 45 years) and 248 men (average age 41 years) who were treated at the Obesity Clinic in the Department of Internal Medicine at Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine between 2024 and 2025.

Participants underwent a range of evaluations. Physical measurements included height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure. Blood tests measured lipid levels to assess cardiovascular risk, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose.

Researchers also examined markers related to liver function (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels), kidney function (creatinine levels), and inflammation. Inflammatory indicators included C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell count, and platelet count.

Key Differences in Fat Distribution and Biomarkers

The results showed that men had a slightly higher body mass index (BMI) than women (37.5 vs 36 kg/m²). However, their waist circumference was much larger (120 vs 108cm), and their systolic blood pressure was also higher (128 vs 122 mmHg), both of which are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes (see table in notes to editors).

Men also had significantly higher levels of liver enzymes (ALT and GGT), triglycerides, and creatinine. These findings point to a greater likelihood of liver-related and metabolic complications.

Women, in contrast, had higher total cholesterol (215 vs 203 mg/dL) and LDL or "bad" cholesterol (130 vs 123 mg/dL). They also showed higher levels of inflammatory markers, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and platelet c