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?