A study published in the journal Molecular Metabolism, conducted by researchers from the University of Aberdeen (UK), University of Cambridge (UK), and the University of Michigan (USA), sheds light on gender differences in weight management.
The findings point to pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the brain, which help regulate appetite and energy expenditure. These neurons function differently in women compared to men, making weight loss harder for women and contributing to faster weight regain. One researcher noted: "We discovered that a region of the brain responsible not only for appetite, but for the way calories are going to be spent behaves differently in women and men."
In experiments, scientists activated these POMC neurons in obese mice. Male mice reduced food intake, increased energy expenditure, and lost weight. Female mice ate less but showed no changes in activity or calorie burning, preventing weight loss.
This research opens doors to targeted obesity treatments. According to the WHO, obesity affects women more than men. In France, over 6.5 million people are classified as obese.
