The reason behind women’s tendency to store more fat around their abdomen compared to men is still unknown. However, few studies explore the biology behind it and might have the answers.
It is widely observed that women tend to
become fatter than men do when they eat food rich in fats. Being skinny is not
healthy but being obese also invites many deadly health issues. A recent study
done with a mice shows how high-fat diet triggers chemical reactions in female
mice and the results seem to have the answers for why women tend to gain more
fat than man after eating excess saturated fatty food.
On average scale, women have 6 to 11% more
body fat than men. The reason is believed to be the high oestrogen levels in
women, which reduce the ability to burn energy after eating and resulting in
more fat being stored in the body cells. Studies show that female puberty and
early pregnancy are the two prime stages of increased oestrogen, which is seen
as states of efficient fat storage in preparation of fertility, fetal
development and lactation. However, excess deposition of fats in the body lead
to various health problems like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The study has found out the biochemical events
in female mice that lead to a series of activities that activates an enzyme,
which in turn drives up the formation of visceral fat cells. This leads to
excess fat accumulation in the belly region. This enzyme is present in higher
amounts in women than in men. Scientists tried to genetically alter the mice by
deleting the enzyme and found that the female mice stayed lean, especially in
the abdominal area, even when they continued to eat
fatty food items.
With genetics along with high fat diet, playing a major role in
accumulation of fat in the body, women are advised to include a balanced diet
and exercise regularly to stay fit and healthy.
Source-Medindia