Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome

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Korean J Obes 2010; 19(4): 113-118

Published online December 1, 2010

Copyright © Korean Society for the Study of Obesity.

Obesity and Sex Hormones

Byung-Joon Kim

Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University, School of Medicine

Abstract

Obesity is not a simple condition which only concerns weight gain, rather it is one of the major disease entities.
Treating obesity will be the most effective way of reducing many types of chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and peripheral artery diseases.
The major cause of obesity is attributed to westernized high calorie diet and exercise deficit, however the aging process and its related hormonal deficiency seems to be the more important factors among the elderly population. Growth hormone deficiency along with sex hormone
deficiency, which each progresses with aging process, will either directly or indirectly influence weight gain. In this
review, articles on studies of whether sex hormone deficiency can affect weight gain will be reviewed and also whether its replacement through treatment can help reduce weight.

Keywords: Sex hormone deficiency, Sex hormone treatment, Obesity