Difference Between Male & Female Obesity

Obesity has become a growing problem for both men and women, but the condition affects the sexes differently. Learning what obesity can do to your body--whether you’re male or female--will help you to make the right adjustments to your health so that you can prevent and treat serious diseases.

Central Obesity

• Men are more likely to experience excess fat around the stomach and middle of the body—this is commonly referred to as a "beer belly." Because of the area where the fat settles, men are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, or insulin resistance. If left untreated, this can lead to Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Constitutional Obesity

• Constitutional obesity is obesity that is present in infancy, and it is hereditary; women are more affected by this condition than men. Women who have a family history of obesity and have children should make sure that their babies are feeding at a rate that does not increase the child’s body fat cell number, so that obesity will not continue into adulthood.

Male Breast Enlargement

• Young boys that are obese are much more likely to develop "breasts," since the fat cells around the breast area accumulate. It can be very difficult to lose this fat even into adulthood, so planning a healthy diet for male obese children is essential.

Endocrine Factors

• The fat that is stored in a woman’s body is often twice the amount of fat that would be found in a man’s body of the same age. This is due to a woman’s endocrine system, which can be slowed due to hormonal imbalance or lack of physical activity.

Stretch Marks

• Both men and women can develop stretch marks when the body takes on additional fat. These white or purple marks are virtually impossible to get rid of, and can usually form on the arms and abdomen area for both sexes.