Sex Differences in Adiposity, Body Fat Mobilization and Cardiometabolic Health Following Bariatric Surgery

Area of Science:

• Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
• Obesity Medicine
• Sex Differences in Health

Background:

• Weight management outcomes, including bariatric surgery, can differ between sexes.
• Understanding these sex-based variations is crucial for personalized treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex-based differences in adiposity, fat mobilization, and obesity-related comorbidities.
• To compare these differences before and after biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) surgery.

Main Methods:

• Ninety patients (26 men, 64 women) undergoing BPD-DS were analyzed.
• Data collected included medical history, anthropometrics, bioimpedance, and CT scans at baseline and 12 months post-surgery.
• One-way ANOVA assessed sex differences in fat and muscle mobilization.

Main Results:

• Baseline: Men had higher lean mass, abdominal muscle, visceral fat, and ectopic thigh muscle fat than women.
• Post-BPD-DS: Abdominal fat volume and ectopic muscle fat remained higher in men.
• Comorbidity remission rates were numerically lower in men, though not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• Sex differences in body fat mobilization persist 12 months after BPD-DS.
• Men retain higher abdominal fat and ectopic muscle fat deposition despite similar BMI and overall body composition.
• These findings highlight sex-specific patterns in post-bariatric surgery fat metabolism.