Men and women found to have different obesity drivers

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have found sex-specific brain signals that appear to confirm that different drivers lead men and women to develop obesity.

The team’s study, published in the journal Brain Communications, combined data from several modes of MRI with patients’ clinical features and personal histories to identify sex-specific mechanisms in the brain underlying obesity. It is believed to be the first study using a data-driven approach to predict sex-specific obesity status based on multimodal brain signatures.

The work builds on an earlier UCLA study in which Dr Arpana Gupta and colleagues examined sex-related differences in the prominence and signalling of brain regions in obesity. In addition to finding that emotion-related and compulsive eating appear to play a major role in obesity in women, that study showed that men’s eating behaviour tends to be affected by a greater awareness of gut sensations and visceral responses — those related to abdominal discomfort.

The new study supports and corroborates many findings from that and earlier studies and provides MRI evidence of differences in brain structure, function and connectivity that may help researchers better understand obesity-related drives and behaviours. For example, alterations in certain brain networks suggest that compared to men, women with a high body mass index (BMI) may be more keenly aware of and drawn to highly processed foods, with an increased risk of developing cravings and food addiction.

“In designing treatment plans for females with high BMI, it may be important to focus on emotional regulation techniques and vulnerability factors,” Gupta said.

The study included 183 participants, ages 18–55; 42 males had a non-obese BMI, 23 males had a high BMI, 63 females had a non-obese BMI and 55 females had a high BMI. All participants filled out questionnaires assessing childhood trauma, anxiety and depression, visceral sensitivity, food addiction, bowel symptoms, personality traits and many other factors.

Each participant also underwent three different brain MRIs to assess structure, function and connectivity. Datasets from the three scans and from clinical information were analysed using an analytical tool that seeks to identify a limited number of variables from multiple data sets to predict an outcome.

The results show specific network connectivity changes associated with high BMI, regardless of sex. In females, the study identified brain regions and networks with alterations associated with early life trauma. These appear consistent with previous observations that females with obesity, compared to males, may have greater anxiety, lower resilience and difficulty integrating emotions with action-directed goal planning. Females also may be more susceptible to the sight, smell and taste of ultra-processed foods.

“We found differences in several of the brain’s networks associated with early life adversity, mental health quality and the way sensory stimulation is experienced,” Gupta said. “The resulting brain signatures, based on multimodal MRI imaging, may help us more precisely tailor obesity interventions based on an individual’s sex.”

The authors acknowledged that the study identified associations, not cause and effect. Future studies will thus be needed to determine whether changes in the brain are a factor in the development of obesity or a result of the condition.

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