Male hypogonadism is associated with obesity

Currently, there is a global trend of steadily increasing obesity rates. Obesity is a component of metabolic syndrome and is a risk factor for the development of a number of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular pathologies. Obesity also leads to hypogonadism in men. In turn, the decrease in androgen levels leads to changes in body composition, reducing the amount of muscle tissue and increasing the content of adipose tissue, thus closing the vicious circle of obesity and hypogonadism. In young men, hypogonadism leads to erectile dysfunction, which can result in infertility. Pathogenetic mechanisms causing the development of hypogonadism in obese men include increased aromatization of testosterone to estradiol in adipose tissue, decreased production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone by the hypothalamus and gonadotropins by the adenohypophysis due to leptin resistance, decreased production of sex steroid-binding globulin and activation of the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. The functional nature of male hypogonadism associated with obesity suggests the potential reversibility of this condition when treating obesity as the cause of its development. Several studies have shown that calorie reduction, drug therapy for obesity, and bariatric surgery help improve androgen levels in men. And the use of testosterone replacement therapy has a positive effect not only on sexual function in men, but also leads to a decrease in adipose tissue.

obesity, male hypogonadism, metabolic syndrome, testosterone, androgens, obesity treatment, bariatric surgery

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