The Relationship Between Obesity and Hypogonadism

Abstract

Obesity is a health problem characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the body, and its prevalence is rapidly increasing in worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic, movement restrictions, difficulties in accessing medical care, and psychological effects have contributed to the rise in obesity rates. Obesity leads to hormonal imbalances, causing various health problems, particularly hypogonadism in men. The expansion of fat tissue due to obesity directly and indirectly affects testosterone levels, triggering hypogonadism. Fat tissue alters hormone levels through the enzyme aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen, and adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin also influence this process. Additionally, low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress associated with obesity impair testosterone production, affecting reproductive functions. Obesity-induced hypogonadism leads to health problems such as muscle and bone loss, along with metabolic and psychological dysfunctions. The effect of obesity on testosterone levels also alters lipid metabolism and body composition, which can further increase fat accumulation. Obesity causes androgen deficiency in men through both direct and indirect pathways, creating physical and psychological health issues.

Keywords

• Obesity
• hypogonadism
• oxidative stress
• ınflammation
• adipokines
• testosterone

Obezite ve Hipogonadizm İlişkisi

Öz

Obezite, vücutta aşırı yağ birikimiyle karakterize bir sağlık sorunu olup, dünya genelinde prevalansı hızla artmaktadır. COVID-19 pandemisi, hareket kısıtlamaları, tıbbi bakıma erişim zorlukları ve psikolojik etkiler obezite oranlarının yükselmesine katkı sağlamıştır. Obezite, vücutta hormonal dengesizliklere yol açarak çeşitli sağlık sorunlarına, özellikle erkeklerde hipogonadizme neden olabilir. Obeziteye bağlı yağ dokusu genişlemesi, testosteron seviyelerini doğrudan ve dolaylı yollarla etkileyerek hipogonadizmi tetikler. Yağ dokusunun, testosteronu östrojenlere dönüştüren aromataz enzimi aracılığıyla hormon seviyelerini değiştirdiği ve leptin, adiponektin gibi adipokinlerin de bu sürece etkisi olduğu görülmektedir. Ayrıca, obeziteyle ilişkili düşük dereceli enflamasyon ve oksidatif stres de testosteron üretimini bozarak üreme fonksiyonlarını etkiler. Obezite kaynaklı hipogonadizm, metabolik ve psikolojik fonksiyon bozukluklarıyla birlikte kas ve kemik kaybı gibi sağlık problemlerine yol açar. Obezitenin, testosteron seviyeleri üzerindeki etkisi, lipid metabolizmasını ve vücut kompozisyonunu da değiştirir, bu da yağ birikiminin daha da artmasına yol açabilir. Obezite, erkeklerde hem doğrudan hem de dolaylı yollarla androjen eksikliğine neden olarak, hem fiziksel hem de psikolojik sağlık sorunları yaratmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Obezite
• hipogonadizm
• oksidatif stress
• enflamasyon
• adipokinler
• testosteron

Kaynakça

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