Gap of women leadership in global obesity research

This study aims to evaluate and summarize the current state of gender equality for female scientists in obesity research.

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of governmental funding, high-impact publications/citations, and awards received by female and male scientists engaged in obesity research worldwide. Median citations were compared by sex and year, with group differences assessed using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test.

Our findings reveal a concerning difference: In most representative countries, a higher proportion of male principal investigators received grant support, with Japan exhibiting the most pronounced gender bias. In highly cited obesity papers, female corresponding authors constituted only 33%, with Japan having the lowest representation at a mere 5%, whereas the Netherlands approached near-equal representation (49%). Furthermore, highly cited obesity papers authored by women generally received fewer citations than those by men across most analyzed years and countries. However, a positive trend emerged in awards: the European Association for the Study of Obesity and the Association for the Study of Obesity recognized female scientists at a higher rate than male scientists.

These findings highlight a complex landscape. Although female scientists have gained increased support and recognition in several countries, significant gender inequality persists in obesity research.