Obesity disrupts endocrine health through insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and altered adipokine signaling. This narrative review explores how different dietary patterns influence hormonal balance in men and women.
Highlights:
- In men, obesity is linked to decreased testosterone, reduced thyroid function, possibly reflecting thyroid hormone resistance, and elevated cortisol
- In women, it increases risks for PCOS, infertility, and androgen excess
- Calorie restriction, low-carbohydrate diets, Mediterranean, and plant-based patterns show hormonal benefits
- Hormonal effects of dietary changes are often sex-specific
What sets this study apart:
Unlike conventional reviews that focus on single nutrients, this synthesis examines whole dietary patterns and their interaction with sex-specific hormonal physiology. It emphasizes the importance of individualized nutrition plans based on reproductive and metabolic profiles, underscoring that one-size-fits-all approaches are inadequate for endocrine health.
Limitations:
As a narrative review, conclusions are drawn from existing literature rather than new clinical data. Long-term outcomes and sustainability of restrictive diets, such as ketogenic or very low-carbohydrate regimens, remain underexplored.
What role does gender play in how dietary choices influence endocrine health?
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