Daijiworld Media Network - Stockholm

Stockholm, May 11: A new study by researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet has revealed that women may be biologically better equipped to ward off metabolic complications like type 2 diabetes, thanks to a more efficient fat-burning process known as lipolysis.

Despite typically having higher body fat percentages, women are less likely to develop conditions such as type 2 diabetes than men. According to the study, this could be linked to the way their bodies break down fat during exercise or between meals.

“Lipolysis the breakdown of lipids stored in fat cells is crucial for maintaining energy balance, and when efficiently activated, may help prevent metabolic diseases,” explained Professor Peter Arner, lead researcher from Karolinska Institutet.

The research, conducted by Professor Arner and Dr Daniel P Andersson of Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, studied abdominal subcutaneous fat cells from men and women. When these cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of catecholamines (hormones that trigger fat breakdown), women’s fat cells required more stimulation but ultimately processed fat more rapidly once activated.

“Interestingly, although women’s fat cells were less sensitive to catecholamines, once lipolysis was triggered, the rate was faster than in male cells,” Arner noted.

The study suggests that during physical stress or exercise, women activate fat-burning mechanisms more effectively than men. Researchers believe that this difference may contribute to lower rates of obesity-linked illnesses in women.

The findings pave the way for new treatment options aimed at reducing diabetes risk in men, particularly those struggling with overweight and obesity. “Long-term, our findings could lead to the development of gender-specific drugs to tackle metabolic disorders,” Arner added.