Whether sex is associated with differences in regional adipose tissue mobilization for a given reduction in body weight and/or waist circumference was investigated in 81 men and 72 women who had participated in various diet and/or exercise interventions. There were significant associations between reductions in body weight and waist circumference with loss of total, intra-abdominal (visceral) and subcutaneous adipose tissue. For a given weight loss, men had a greater decrease in waist circumference than women which was even greater with increasing weight loss. Accordingly, for a given decrease in body weight or waist circumference, men showed significantly greater reductions in intra-abdominal adipose tissue and smaller reductions in subcutaneous fat than women. These sex differences were greater with progressive body weight or waist circumference reductions. Finally, decreases in body weight and in waist circumference were both independent predictors of intra-abdominal adipose tissue loss.
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