Gender Differences in the Body Composition, Resting Energy Expenditure, and Leptin Levels of Obese Adults

The objective of this study was to examine how circulating leptin concentrations and resting energy expenditures (REE) are related to body composition in obese adults, and to examine differences in these parameters according to gender. Twenty-three subjects, 6 males and 17 females, were recruited from patients with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 27 at the Obesity Clinic of the K University Hospital. Anthropometric assessments and biochemical analyses were performed, and REEs were measured. In spite of having similar BMI values the plasma leptin levels of females (20.0$\pm$6.5 ng/ml) were significantly higher (p<.05) than those of males (14.2$\pm$6.1) ng/ml). In females, plasma leptin concentrations were found to be positively related to body weight. BMI, waist-hip ratio (WHR), fat mass (FM), body fat, and to the circumferences of forearm, waist and hip (p<.0001). However, in males, plasma leptin concentrations were positively related only to suprailiac thickness (p<.05). The higher plasma leptin levels in females compared to males may, at least partially. be explained by the females' higher subcutaneous fat mass. Plasma leptin concentrations appeared to reflect not only total fat mass but also regional fat distribution, especially in females. REE values of males (2254.3$\pm$256.2 kcal/day) were significantly higher (p＜.01) than those of females (1799.1$\pm$454.7 kcal/day). REE values for females were positively related to body weight, BMI, lean body mass (LBM), FM, body fat, and to the circumferences of waist and hip (p<.05); however, REE values for males were (positively) related only to LBM (p<.05). REE values were not related to plasma leptin concentrations for either males or females, indicating that the plasma level of leptin might not be a predictor for REE value.