Gender Differences in Obesity-Related Heart and Metabolic Risks

Research presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 12-15, 2026, indicates that men and women living with obesity exhibit markedly different patterns of heart, metabolic, and inflammatory health risks. The study, led by researchers at Dokuz Eylul University in Turkey, suggests that these biological differences could allow clinicians to develop more targeted, sex-based management approaches for patients.

The findings reveal that men with obesity are more susceptible to the development of abdominal or visceral fat. This specific type of fat accumulation is identified as a key factor in the development of primary metabolic and heart health risks. The research found that men with obesity showed elevated levels of liver enzymes, which serves as an indicator of liver damage.

In contrast, the study found that women with obesity are more likely to develop high cholesterol and systemic inflammation. These specific risk factors are associated with an increased likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Lead author Dr. Zeynep Pekel stated that Our findings reveal intriguing differences in the way men and women respond to obesity, and noted that They show just how important gender-specific research is.

The research indicates that biological sex significantly influences systemic inflammatory activity, hepatic metabolism, and the distribution of adipose tissue. According to Dr. Pekel, identifying these distinctions may serve as a stepping stone toward finding targeted therapies to manage obesity based on the sex of the patient.

Global Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome

The study provides broader context regarding metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of dangerous risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In 2023, an estimated 1.54 billion adults worldwide were living with metabolic syndrome, affecting approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by several key risk factors, including:

• Abdominal obesity
• High blood pressure
• Raised fasting plasma glucose
• High cholesterol

Differences in Body Composition and Risk Factors

Additional research into obesity and gender highlights further disparities in how body composition affects health risks. Analysis shows that fat mass and the ratio of fat mass to lean mass are significantly higher in women than in men, regardless of the degree of obesity.

The distribution of fat also plays a varied role in cardiovascular risk. Research indicates that while obese men may exhibit higher overall cardiovascular disease risk factors—including body mass indices, serum glucose, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures—the waist-to-hip ratio may be a more robust risk factor for women.

Among women, cardiovascular disease risk factors tend to cluster in individuals with higher waist-to-hip ratios. A higher waist-to-hip ratio in women has been associated with a reduction in systolic blood pressure in response to weight loss, a correlation that was not observed in men.

These combined findings suggest that the pathology and course of obesity are heavily influenced by sex, necessitating a move away from one-size-fits-all treatment models in favor of gender-specific medical strategies.