New research uncovers gender differences in fat metabolism

New findings presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) reveal important gender-based differences in how fat is broken down for energy, offering new insights into metabolic health and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The study, which focused on lipolysis, the process by which triglycerides stored in fat cells are broken down into free fatty acids and glycerol, found that women may metabolise fat more efficiently than men. These substances are vital energy sources, particularly during exercise or between meals.

Led by researchers including a team from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, the study explored how hormones known as catecholamines, released during stress or physical activity, trigger and regulate fat breakdown. While men’s fat cells were found to be more sensitive to these hormones, women’s fat cells displayed a more efficient response once lipolysis was activated.

To investigate further, researchers examined abdominal subcutaneous fat cells from 774 women and 298 men. The cells were exposed to varying levels of catecholamines, and the amount of glycerol released was used to measure lipolysis activity. Results showed that women’s fat cells required a higher concentration of catecholamines to initiate lipolysis. However, once stimulated, the process occurred more rapidly than in men’s cells.

This difference may help explain why women, despite typically having a higher percentage of body fat, tend to have a lower risk of developing metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes. It also raises the possibility of tailoring treatments for men living with overweight or obesity to improve fat metabolism and reduce disease risk.

The study also confirmed that physical activity boosts the ability of catecholamines to trigger fat breakdown. Researchers suggest that exercise could be a particularly effective strategy for men to enhance lipolysis and protect against metabolic diseases.

These findings could pave the way for the development of targeted therapies that address gender-specific differences in fat metabolism and help reduce the burden of obesity-related conditions.