Why do women get fat faster than men?
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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If to conduct a survey among women, in order to find out which part of the body is the most unloved, then surely most would point to the stomach.
Everyone knows that this leads to poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle, but the reasons for this do not end there.
A diet with a high level of fat causes chemical reactions in female mice. This could serve as an explanation of why the female waist swims more fat than the male waist.
Also, these reactions can provide an explanation of why menopause is rapidly gaining weight after the onset of menopause.
Specialists followed the chain of events in the body of mice, which begin with the activation of the enzyme, and end with the formation of visceral fat. This fat fills the free space between the internal organs of the stomach and can lead to serious health problems due to its toxicity. For example, there is a high probability of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even the development of cancer.
One of the functions of this enzyme is the production of a powerful hormone, under the influence of which visceral fat cells are formed. The source of this hormone is vitamin A.
When consuming fatty foods, the activation of this enzyme in women is more intense than in men.
When scientists made genetic changes in the mouse's female body, removing the enzyme, the mouse remained lean and did not build up fat, especially in the abdomen, even if it was eating high-calorie food. Mice males showed the same results. The results of the study suggest that these data can form the basis for the treatment of obesity.
"If you conduct a survey, most people will call the main causes of obesity high-calorie food and sedentary lifestyle. But as we see problems with excess weight are also genetically determined, "says lead author of the study, assistant professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University Ulyana Zyuzenkova. -
A diet saturated with fats affects our genetic potential, making us more obese, but it is not able to do it ourselves.
Also, experts found out why during menopause, most women risk gaining excess weight. This is due to the fact that a decrease in the level of estrogen fat provokes a redistribution of fat from the hips and buttocks (where it was stored as a reserve stock for breastfeeding) into the abdominal cavity.