Why fat distribution differs between men and women
Glucocorticoid regulation of p450 aromatase activity in human adipose tissue: gender and site differences.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Cortisol decreases aromatase activity in men’s subcutaneous fat but increases it in women’s—opposite effects by sex.
Most assume stress hormones like cortisol universally promote fat storage or estrogen production; this shows the opposite effect in men’s under-skin fat, which contradicts simplistic 'cortisol = bad' narratives.
Practical Takeaways
Manage chronic stress and insulin spikes (from sugar/refined carbs) to potentially reduce hormonal disruption in fat tissue.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Cortisol decreases aromatase activity in men’s subcutaneous fat but increases it in women’s—opposite effects by sex.
Most assume stress hormones like cortisol universally promote fat storage or estrogen production; this shows the opposite effect in men’s under-skin fat, which contradicts simplistic 'cortisol = bad' narratives.
Practical Takeaways
Manage chronic stress and insulin spikes (from sugar/refined carbs) to potentially reduce hormonal disruption in fat tissue.
Publication
Journal
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Year
2002
Authors
P. McTernan, L. A. Anderson, A. Anwar, M. Eggo, J. Crocker, A. H. Barnett, Paul M. Stewart, Sudhesh Kumar
Related Content
Claims (6)
In women, a stress hormone called cortisol makes fat tissue produce more estrogen, but in men, it does the opposite—this might help explain why women store more fat under the skin than men.
In belly fat, cortisol makes both men and women’s fat cells make more estrogen, but it boosts it way more in men than in women.
After menopause, belly fat becomes more responsive to stress hormones by making more estrogen than before menopause.
Insulin by itself doesn’t change estrogen production in fat, but when it’s with cortisol, it makes the difference between men and women disappear.
Belly fat naturally makes less estrogen than fat under the skin, no matter if you're a man or a woman.