Hypotestosterone in Male with Obesity

Abstract

Obesity can be defined as the excess of body fat. The prevalence of obesity worldwide increases in the last decades and causes a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Male subjects tend to develop visceral (abdominal) obesity, which produces pro-inflammatory adipokines. Obesity in males is associated with low testosterone levels. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the link between male obesity and hypotestosterone, including increased aromatization of testosterone to form estradiol, suppressing the Hypothalamus-Pituitary (HPT) axis due to pro-inflammatory adipokines, and decrease of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) production. Because hypotestosterone in males with obesity is a functional but reversible condition, it is essential to screen testosterone levels in obese males for early intervention and treatment.