Gender‐specific considerations in physical activity, thermogenesis and fat oxidation: implications for obesity management

Abstract

With current 'one-size-fits-all' obesity prevention and management strategies proving largely ineffective, the focus has shifted towards a more tailored, individualized approach. However, investigation of the mechanisms underlying inter-individual variability in metabolic profile and response to intervention often yield conflicting results. Indeed, it is perhaps surprising that despite at least a century of recognition that sex hormones influence metabolism, firm conclusions regarding the effects of the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception and menopause on many aspects of energy expenditure and substrate utilization remain to be drawn. In this review, we examine current evidence relating to gender-specific considerations in the promotion of physical activity, thermogenesis and fat oxidation for body-weight regulation, including the relationship between sex hormone status and non-exercise activity thermogenesisan energy expenditure compartment that is often overlooked in favour of traditional exercise/sport physical activities yet presents a viable target in the search for effective weight management.

Sex/Gender-Specific Imbalance in CVD: Could Physical Activity Help to Improve Clinical Outcome Targeting CVD Molecular Mechanisms in Women?

“…In particular, the impact of a shift from moderate to strong/energetic physical training appears to mainly favor men, while women seem to gain benefits from low to moderate exercise with no additional positive outcomes when increasing the intensity, particularly among postmenopausal women [99]. With regard to cardiovascular health outcomes, low/moderate physical activities have been reported to be more protective in women in terms of CVD risk, coronary heart disease, and other pathological conditions, such as diabetes [49,97,[100][101][102][103][104]. However, few studies have so far compared the response to different types of exercise in women and men in the prevention of CVD risk and during rehabilitation [49,[105][106][107][108][109].…”

“…With regard to cardiovascular health outcomes, low/moderate physical activities have been reported to be more protective in women in terms of CVD risk, coronary heart disease, and other pathological conditions, such as diabetes [49,97,[100][101][102][103][104]. However, few studies have so far compared the response to different types of exercise in women and men in the prevention of CVD risk and during rehabilitation [49,[105][106][107][108][109]. It is of interest that recent studies on the effects induced by endurance and endurance-strength exercise in women characterized by obesity revealed that not only were there exercise-mediated improvements in terms of renal function [110], liver function [111], and mineral homeostasis [112] but that the type of exercise could make a difference in terms of biochemical parameter markers of exercise-mediated benefits [111].…”

“…Differences between men and women in terms of effects of physical exercise have been reported, and sex/gender-specific studies are gaining increasing attention and highlighting crucial implications in several health issues, including cardiac adaptation to exercise as well as CVD prevention/rehabilitation [48][49][50][51][52][53][54].…”

Targeting lifestyle energy expenditure in the management of obesity and health: from biology to built environment

“…Thus, understanding this gender disparity is key to the effective management and prevention of obesity and cardiometabolic disease in women. Isacco and Miles‐Chan review the evidence for gender disparity in the promotion of physical activity, thermogenesis and substrate utilization, and they discuss the implications of this disparity in terms of obesity management. In particular, they examine the effects of menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptives, pregnancy and menopause on fat oxidation in response to moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activities, and they also review the relationship between sex hormone status and the response to lower‐level physical activities and NEAT.…”

Impact of Combined Hormonal Contraceptive Use on Weight Loss: A Secondary Analysis of a Behavioral Weight‐Loss Trial

“…The health risks of obesity may be greater for women compared with men (7,8). In addition, obesity in women results in distinct health risks during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period (9).…”