Comparative study between obese men and obese postmenopausal women [with central obesity]: regarding different metabolic and endocrinal factors

ABSTRACT

Study the relationship between central obesity and different endocrinal and metabolic parameters among obese men and obese postmenopausal women. A hundred obese patients [fifty men and fifty postmenopausal women] reviewing the obesity out-patient clinic [Reqqae clinic -Ministry of health - Kuwait]. Their mean age was 53.0 +/- 16.8 years. Their assessment included full clinical examination to exclude apparent endocrinal disorders, anthropometric indexes [BMI, body fat% and Waist/ hip ratio. All patients had body mass index [BMI] >29 Kg/m[2] [obese], with waist / hip ratio >0.8 cm. [0.91-1.11] that's to say have central obesity. Blood tests for assessment of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and low density- lipoproteins were carried on. Endocrinal evaluation included measurement of fasting serum cortisol and fasting insulin levels were also done. Postmenopausal women having central obesity had significantly higher total body fat [44.0%] compared with age- matched obese men [37.4%] [P <0.001]. There is significant rise in fasting insulin level and fasting cortisol levels among postmenopausal obese women compared to obese men [P<0.001]. There was no significant difference between both groups regarding the serum cholesterol levels or the low-density lipoprotein values [P=0.44]. Whereas, the postmenopausal obese female group showed significantly higher values of serum triglycerides compared with the group of obese men [P<0.001]. We found significant positive correlation between waist/ hip ratio and fasting increase in serum cortisol and insulin values among postmenopausal obese women, a relation that could not be proved among obese men. Our study found that patients with central obesity [W/H ratio > 0.8 cm. have increased fasting plasma insulin [hyperinsulinemia] and cortisol values [hypercortisolemia]. In addition, in women with central obesity this hyperinsulinemia and hypercortisolemia are positively correlated with the waist/hip ratio. Relation between central obesity and metabolic and endocrinal factors