Obesity

Overweight and obesity are defined by the WHO as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to an individuals health.

Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer and while it was once an issue only in high income countries, overweight and obesity has now dramatically risen in low- and middle-income countries.Such countries are now facing a "double burden" of disease, for while they continue to deal with the problems of infectious disease and under-nutrition, they are also experiencing a rapid upsurge in chronic disease risk factors such as obesity and overweight, particularly in urban settings.

What is Obesity?

Obesity and overweight have in the last decade become a global problem - according to the World Health Organization (WHO) back in 2005 approximately 1.6 billion adults over the of age 15+ were overweight, at least 400 million adults were obese and at least 20 million children under the age of 5 years were overweight.

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity, What Can be Done?

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity Management

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and Cancer

Obesity and Depression

Obesity and Autism

See more featured articles »

Obesity and Sleep

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity in Adults

Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity and Sexual Health

Obesity and Stress

Obesity and Fractures

Obesity and Arthritis

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity Epidemiology

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity in Children

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

Obesity and Heart Disease

Obesity and Anesthesia

Obesity and Skin Problems

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Dieting for Obese Children

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

Latest Obesity News and Research

What’s behind Gen Z’s skepticism about Ozempic and Wegovy

A U.S. study of over 500 youth aged 14–24 found high awareness but widespread hesitation about using semaglutide for weight loss. Concerns focused on safety, social stigma, and a preference for lifestyle changes like diet and exercise.

24 Apr 2025

Common diabetes drug can reduce the pain of people with knee osteoarthritis and obesity

A common diabetes drug can reduce the pain of people with knee osteoarthritis and overweight or obesity, possibly delaying the need for knee replacements, Monash University-led research has found.

24 Apr 2025

Maternal childhood trauma linked to rapid weight gain in baby boys

Adverse situations experienced by the mother during childhood – such as neglect or physical, psychological or sexual violence – can trigger excessive weight gain in male children as early as the first two months of life.

23 Apr 2025

Epigenetic flexibility helps embryos avoid developmental errors

An international research team led by Helmholtz Munich has, for the first time, provided a detailed insight into how the spatial organization of genetic material is established in the cell nucleus of early embryos within the first hours after fertilization.

23 Apr 2025

UK public backs food tax, if it makes healthy food more affordable

A nationally representative UK survey found that 48% of adults support taxing unhealthy foods, with support rising to 72% if revenues make healthy foods cheaper. Public backing was strongest among non-manual workers and Londoners, and weakest among lower-income and unemployed groups.

23 Apr 2025

Bacterial toxin may contribute to rise in early-onset colorectal cancer

In an effort to explain a modern medical mystery, an international team of researchers led by the University of California San Diego has identified a potential microbial culprit behind the alarming rise in early-onset colorectal cancer: a bacterial toxin called colibactin.

23 Apr 2025

Measles misinformation is on the rise — and Americans are hearing it, survey finds

While the most serious measles epidemic in a decade has led to the deaths of two children and spread to 27 states with no signs of letting up, beliefs about the safety of the measles vaccine and the threat of the disease are sharply polarized, fed by the anti-vaccine views of the country's seniormost health official.

23 Apr 2025

DASH diet and salt reduction work together to reduce cardiovascular risk

Reducing dietary sodium and following the DASH diet each lower 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with the greatest benefit when combined. This effect is especially strong for women, Black adults, and those with stage 2 hypertension.

23 Apr 2025

Interferon regulatory factor 8 identified as key driver of liver fat buildup in NAFLD

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic metabolic syndrome resulting from lipid metabolic imbalance. Interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is well known for its roles in immune cell differentiation and tumor pathogenesis; however, its role in regulating glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism remains unclear.

22 Apr 2025

Can a plant-based diet help prevent breast cancer?

A case-control study in Iranian women found that higher adherence to a healthy plant-based diet significantly reduces breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women and those with a BMI under 25. In contrast, high intake of unhealthy plant-based foods raised risk in premenopausal women.

22 Apr 2025

Obesity alters the rhythm of liver’s starvation response

Researchers led by Keigo Morita and Shinya Kuroda of the University of Tokyo have revealed a temporal disruption in the metabolism of obese mice when adapting to starvation despite no significant structural disruptions in the molecular network.

22 Apr 2025

New $15 million study aims to understand cardiovascular and kidney disease risk factors in women

Research teams from Augusta University, Massachusetts General Hospital and The Ohio State University will lead a $15 million project dedicated to studying the various ways that risk factors for cardiovascular and kidney diseases impact women.

22 Apr 2025

Study shows how alcohol combined with burn trauma throws the intestinal microbiome into chaos

What happens in your gut after a night of heavy drinking and a severe burn injury? According to a new study, it might involve more than just pain and discomfort.

22 Apr 2025

Vitamin D curbs colorectal cancer by boosting immunity and blocking tumor growth

Review highlights how vitamin D, particularly its active form calcitriol, modulates immune responses, inflammation, and tumor progression to help prevent colorectal cancer (CRC). Evidence suggests adequate vitamin D levels and supplementation reduce CRC risk and improve outcomes.

21 Apr 2025

Diabetes drugs GLP-1RA and SGLT2i lower dementia risk in older adults, study finds

A large population-based study found that GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), two classes of glucose-lowering drugs used in type 2 diabetes, were associated with a significantly reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). These findings suggest potential neuroprotective benefits and highlight drug repurposing as a promising strategy for ADRD prevention.

21 Apr 2025

Reversing adipose tissue fibrosis through targeted microRNA therapies

A new review published in Genes & Diseases highlights the transformative role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating and potentially reversing adipose tissue fibrosis, a condition closely linked to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

20 Apr 2025

Traditional BMI cut-offs overestimate overweight and obesity in male athletes

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025, Malaga, Spain, 11-14 May) shows that the internationally recognized body mass index (BMI) cut-off points greatly overestimate overweight and obesity in male athletes.

18 Apr 2025

Monell study offers renewed hope for people living with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

A Monell Chemical Senses Center study published this week in the Journal of Clinical Investigation offers renewed hope for individuals living with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS), a rare genetic disorder characterized by early-onset obesity, compulsive eating, and cognitive impairments.

18 Apr 2025

Why “eat 1 more” boosts fruit and vegetable intake more than “5 a day”

Setting specific goals, especially achievable ones like "Eat 1 more", significantly increased fruit and vegetable intake in both controlled and real-world environments. However, whether the goal was framed around current or future benefits had little impact on consumption.

18 Apr 2025

Study: Women show greater awareness of obesity drugs than men

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025, Malaga, Spain, 11-14 May) shows that women are much more aware of knowledgeable about the obesity drugs GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists (that include semaglutide and tirzepatide).

17 Apr 2025