OtherHumann = 28 participants2026Spain
Similar Adiposity Improvements but Different Eating Behavior and Mental Health Responses in Men and Women: A 12-Week Exploratory Study.
Plain-language summary
This study set out to compare how men and women respond to a 12-week Mediterranean-style weight-loss diet, focusing on changes in body fat, eating habits, and mental health. It followed 19 women and 9 men with overweight or obesity, tracking their weight, diet quality, eating behaviors, and mental health before and after the diet. Both sexes lost similar amounts of body fat and improved their diet quality, but men saw bigger mental health gains, including lower stress, anxiety, and depression, while women did not. The researchers suggest that weight-loss programs might need to tailor psychological support differently for men and women.
Key findings
- Both men and women lost similar amounts of body fat on the diet.
- Men showed improvements in mental health (lower stress, anxiety, and depression), while women did not.
- Uncontrolled eating decreased and diet quality improved in both sexes.
- In men, higher anxiety was linked to higher body fat and lower diet quality.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- This exploratory study tracks changes over time but is limited by its small sample size and lack of a control group, making it harder to rule out other influences.
- Population
- The study included 19 women and 9 men with overweight or obesity, but the small number of men limits how broadly the findings can be applied.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Watch for
- This study found that men on a Mediterranean-style weight-loss diet saw bigger mental health gains than women, including lower stress and anxiety. If you're tackling weight loss, pairing diet changes with stress management may be worth a try, especially for men.