High-Fat Diets Trigger More Fat Accumulation in Women Than in Men

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