DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Factors Associated with Serum Testosterone Changes After Weight Loss in Young Males with Obesity

젊은 비만 남성에서 체중 감량 이후 혈청 테스토스테론 변화에 영향을 미치는 요인

  • Jun-Ho Lee (Department of Family Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Seunghyun Cheong (Department of Dermatology, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Jee-Hyun Kang (Department of Family Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine)
  • 이준호 (건양대학교 의과대학 건양대학교병원 가정의학교실) ;
  • 정승현 (건양대학교 의과대학 건양대학교병원 피부학교실) ;
  • 강지현 (건양대학교 의과대학 건양대학교병원 가정의학교실)
  • Received : 2026.02.13
  • Accepted : 2026.06.05
  • Published : 2026.06.30

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with changes in serum testosterone levels following weight loss among young males with obesity. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 79 males aged 20-39 years selected from 465 patients with obesity who visited a hospital for weight reduction and underwent at least two serum testosterone measurements during follow-up. Pearson's correlation analysis evaluated associations between total serum testosterone levels and anthropometric and metabolic parameters. Multiple linear regression analysis identified independent factors associated with changes in total testosterone levels following weight loss. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.3 ± 5.5 years, body weight was 102.0 ± 16.2 kg, waist circumference was 105.0 (99.0-114.5) cm, and body mass index was 32.9 ± 4.5 kg/m2. Following the weight-loss intervention, mean serum testosterone levels increased significantly (3.21 ± 1.34 ng/mL vs. 3.89 ± 1.45 ng/mL; P<0.001). Changes in total testosterone levels were inversely correlated with changes in body weight-related parameters, hemoglobin A1c levels, and triglyceride levels. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that changes in waist circumference were independently associated with changes in serum testosterone levels (β = -0.609, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Reduced waist circumference was independently associated with increased serum testosterone levels. These findings suggest that reduction of abdominal obesity may be associated with improved serum testosterone levels.

Keywords

References

  1. Piché ME, Tchernof A, Després JP. Obesity phenotypes, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Circ Res 2020;126:1477-500. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.316101
  2. Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. 2024 Obesity fact sheet. Seoul: Korean Society for the Study of Obesity; 2024.
  3. Kaufman JM, Lapauw B, Mahmoud A, T'Sjoen G, Huhtaniemi IT. Aging and the male reproductive system. Endocr Rev 2019;40:906-72. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2018-00178
  4. Kelly DM, Jones TH. Testosterone and obesity. Obes Rev 2015;16:581-606. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.2015.16.issue-7
  5. Gruzdeva O, Borodkina D, Uchasova E, Dyleva Y, Barbarash O. Leptin resistance: underlying mechanisms and diagnosis. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2019;12:191-8. https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO
  6. Tsai EC, Matsumoto AM, Fujimoto WY, Boyko EJ. Association of bioavailable, free, and total testosterone with insulin resistance: influence of sex hormone-binding globulin and body fat. Diabetes Care 2004;27:861-8. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.27.4.861
  7. Qu M, Feng C, Wang X, et al. Association of serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone with blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and elderly men. J Am Heart Assoc 2021;10:e019559. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.019559
  8. Van de Velde F, Deventer K, Van Gansbeke W, et al. Metabolism of testosterone during weight loss in men with obesity. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2021;209:105851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2021.105851
  9. Niskanen L, Laaksonen DE, Punnonen K, Mustajoki P, Kaukua J, Rissanen A. Changes in sex hormone-binding globulin and testosterone during weight loss and weight maintenance in abdominally obese men with the metabolic syndrome. Diabetes Obes Metab 2004;6:208-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.2004.6.issue-3
  10. Kim YS, Hong D, Lee DJ, Joo NS, Kim KM. Total testosterone may not decline with ageing in Korean men aged 40 years or older. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2012;77:296-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.2012.77.issue-2
  11. Blaya R, Thomaz LD, Guilhermano F, et al. Total testosterone levels are correlated to metabolic syndrome components. Aging Male 2016;19:85-9. https://doi.org/10.3109/13685538.2016.1154523
  12. Svartberg J, von Mühlen D, Sundsfjord J, Jorde R. Waist circumference and testosterone levels in community dwelling men. The Tromsø study. Eur J Epidemiol 2004;19:657-63. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EJEP.0000036809.30558.8f
  13. Laaksonen DE, Niskanen L, Punnonen K, et al. Testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin predict the metabolic syndrome and diabetes in middle-aged men. Diabetes Care 2004;27:1036-41. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.27.5.1036
  14. Grossmann M, Gianatti EJ, Zajac JD. Testosterone and type 2 diabetes. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2010;17:247-56. https://doi.org/10.1097/MED.0b013e32833919cf
  15. Machado FP, Rhoden EL, Pioner SR, et al. Weight loss through bariatric surgery in men presents beneficial effects on sexual function, symptoms of testosterone deficiency, and hormonal profile. Sex Med 2021;9:100400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100400
  16. Jensterle M, Podbregar A, Goricar K, Gregoric N, Janez A. Effects of liraglutide on obesity-associated functional hypogonadism in men. Endocr Connect 2019;8:195-202. https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-18-0514
  17. Kelly DM, Akhtar S, Sellers DJ, Muraleedharan V, Channer KS, Jones TH. Testosterone differentially regulates targets of lipid and glucose metabolism in liver, muscle and adipose tissues of the testicular feminised mouse. Endocrine 2016;54:504-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-016-1019-1
  18. Pitteloud N, Mootha VK, Dwyer AA, et al. Relationship between testosterone levels, insulin sensitivity, and mitochondrial function in men. Diabetes Care 2005;28:1636-42. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.28.7.1636
  19. Kim YB, Lee JH, Kim SJ, Yu BY, Kang JH. Factors associated with serum testosterone levels in obese men aged 20-39 years. Korean J Fam Pract 2022;12:48-53. https://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.1.48
  20. Cignarelli A, Santi D, Genchi VA, et al. Very low-calorie ketogenic diet rapidly augments testosterone levels in non-diabetic obese subjects. Andrology 2023;11:234-44.
  21. Dhindsa S, Prabhakar S, Sethi M, Bandyopadhyay A, Chaudhuri A, Dandona P. Frequent occurrence of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004;89:5462-8. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2004-0804
  22. Zhu C, Zhang Y, Zhang L, et al. Changes in sex hormones after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in chinese obese men: a 12-month follow-up. Obes Surg 2019;29:869-77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-018-3611-3
  23. Isidori AM, Caprio M, Strollo F, et al. Leptin and androgens in male obesity: evidence for leptin contribution to reduced androgen levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999;84:3673-80.
  24. Obaideen M, Önel T, Yıldırım E, Yaba A. The role of leptin in the male reproductive system. J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 2024;25:247-58. https://doi.org/10.4274/jtgga.
  25. Genchi VA, D'Oria R, Palma G, et al. Impaired leptin signalling in obesity: is leptin a new thermolipokine? Int J Mol Sci 2021;22:6445. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22126445
  26. Mehta A, Marso SP, Neeland IJ. Liraglutide for weight management: a critical review of the evidence. Obes Sci Pract 2017;3:3-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.v3.1
  27. Brambilla DJ, Matsumoto AM, Araujo AB, McKinlay JB. The effect of diurnal variation on clinical measurement of serum testosterone and other sex hormone levels in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009;94:907-13. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2008-1902
  28. Ramachandran S, Hackett GI, Strange RC. Sex Hormone binding globulin: a review of its interactions with testosterone and age, and its impact on mortality in men with type 2 diabetes. Sex Med Rev 2019;7:669-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.06.006
  29. Ahmed F, Hetty S, Laterveer R, et al. Altered expression of aromatase and estrogen receptors in adipose tissue from men with obesity or type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2025;110:e3410-24. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaf038