Obesity Not the Same in Men and Women
Reported July 12, 2005

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- When it comes to obesity, it seems a woman's body handles it better than a man's. A new study finds obese men are more carbohydrate intolerant than obese women, and obese women are more fit than obese men.

Researchers in the Netherlands conducted the study on severely obese men and women. Severe obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) over 40. All of the participants underwent exercise capacity tests. Both groups were similar in age and BMI but were not the same when it came to test results. Study authors found 59 percent of men had overt diabetes or were carbohydrate intolerant compared to 35 percent of the women. Women also performed better on the exercise endurance test and related lung capacity tests than men.

Study authors say the exercise difference could be explained by the fat distribution. Men tend to carry their fat in their upper body compared to women who carry their fat in their lower body. Upper body fat can reduce lung capacity. Researchers point out women may be historically more capable of handling fat. "It is possible that women are better equipped for energy storage due to their inherent need to feed their offspring," says co-author Dave H. Schweitzer, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Hospital Reinier de Graaf Groep. "When food is abundant, such as in modern society, both genders may become obese, but men simply do not have the reserve capacity to handle excess food, which puts extra stress on their bodies, causing decreased performance and, possibly, illness."

Because obesity can lead to impaired lung function, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease and other health conditions, researchers say doctors need to encourage their obese patients to lose weight and assist them in doing so in a healthy manner.

SOURCE: Chest, 2005;128:256-262