New Delhi: A recent study has found that women break down fat more effectively than men, which may help explain why they are less prone to metabolic issues like type 2 diabetes, even though they generally have a higher percentage of body fat.
The research, conducted by a team from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, focused on lipolysis — the body’s natural process of breaking down stored fat into usable energy. This process typically occurs during periods of exercise or fasting, when the body requires energy but is not receiving it directly from food.
“Fat breakdown through lipolysis plays a vital role in maintaining energy balance,” said Professor Peter Arner, one of the lead researchers. “And if done efficiently, it may help prevent conditions like type 2 diabetes and other complications related to obesity.”
According to the researchers, women’s bodies are more efficient at this fat-burning process than men’s. This might partly explain why women tend to have a lower risk of developing metabolic disorders, despite carrying more body fat overall.
The study also examined the role of catecholamines, a group of hormones that regulate lipolysis. These hormones become more active during psychological stress or physical activity. Interestingly, they seem to initiate a stronger fat-burning response in women than in men.
To explore this further, Professor Arner and Dr. Daniel P. Andersson analysed abdominal fat cells from adult men and women. These cells were exposed to increasing doses of catecholamines. The team measured how much glycerol, a byproduct of fat breakdown, was released.
The results showed that although women’s fat cells were slightly less sensitive to the hormones, once stimulated, they broke down fat at a faster rate than men’s fat cells.
Researchers believe this insight could eventually contribute to developing targeted treatments to boost fat metabolism in men, helping reduce their risk of obesity-related conditions like type 2 diabetes.
