Sex Disparities in Obesity: A Comprehensive Review of Hormonal and Genetic Influences on Obesity‐Related Phenotypes
Yu‐Gyeong Lee, Yoo-Ree Kang, Yoomee Chang, Jongmin Kim, Mi‐Kyung Sung
Abstract
The Worldwide Incidence of Obesity, which tripled in 2016 from 1975, is a leading risk factor for chronic diseases. The presence of sex-dependent disparities in obesity has spurred increased interest in understanding the diverse environmental and genetic factors influencing this condition. Typically, men tend to have more visceral adipose tissue (VAT), while women generally have higher amounts of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). These differences have been largely attributed to the effects of sex hormones, particularly estrogen. However, large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic factors associated with sex-dependent disparities in obesity-related traits, which revealed that the role of estrogen may have been overemphasized. This review aims to summarize sex-specific differences in adipose tissue distribution and adipose tissue type such as white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Additionally, the mechanisms underlying the development of sex-specific characteristics are explained, with a focus on estrogen and obesity-associated genes. Specifically, we propose a list of GWAS-derived genes that may be responsible for the observed sex differences in obesity, which could significantly contribute to the existing literature.