Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

BMI may no longer be enough for assessing obesity in older adults

Body mass index (BMI) is key method for measuring a person's weight status, and defining if they have normal weight, overweight, or obesity.

19 Mar 2025

Early use of anti-obesity medication doubles weight loss

Adding an anti-obesity medication just one month after behavioral therapy begins-rather than waiting the currently recommended six months-can more than double weight loss for patients who struggle initially with lifestyle changes alone, according to new research published in Nature Medicine from a team at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

18 Mar 2025

Eating a variety of plants helps infants build a stronger gut microbiome

Diverse plant-based diets in early childhood drive gut microbiome maturation, with weaning stage emerging as the dominant dietary signature across global populations.

18 Mar 2025

Healthy plant-based diets linked to longer life for people with cardiometabolic disorders

People with cardiometabolic disorders—such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease—could increase their chances of living longer by adopting a healthy plant-based diet, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25).

18 Mar 2025

AI-based neural network revolutionizes cancer treatment predictions

A first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence (AI)-based neural network can rapidly analyze and interpret millions of cells from a patient sample, predicting molecular changes in the tissue.

18 Mar 2025

Keto controversy? Experts say it’s here to stay

Low-carb and ketogenic diets offer sustainable solutions for chronic disease, enhancing metabolic health and supporting weight loss through dietary changes.

18 Mar 2025

Probiotic drink kefir shows promise in preventing Alzheimer’s

Kefir, a probiotic-rich fermented milk, shows potential in reducing neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and beta-amyloid buildup, suggesting a role in Alzheimer’s prevention and management. However, more clinical trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness in human patients.

17 Mar 2025

Could a little spice in your diet prevent gestational diabetes?

Eating chili once a month during pregnancy is linked to a significantly lower risk of gestational diabetes, while dried beans and bean soup showed no clear association.

17 Mar 2025

Polluted soil and water are fueling a global heart disease epidemic

A new study in Atherosclerosis shows that soil and water pollution, including microplastics and toxic chemicals, significantly raise cardiovascular disease risks. The research highlights how emerging contaminants and poor environmental practices drive global health threats.

16 Mar 2025

Nutri-Score proves effective, so why hasn’t the EU made it mandatory?

Experts call for an EU-wide, mandatory Nutri-Score label to promote healthier diets and curb industry influence on policymaking. The paper highlights how corporate lobbying has delayed EU action on front-of-pack nutrition labeling despite strong scientific evidence.

16 Mar 2025

Long-COVID symptoms persist for two years in over half of cases

23% of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 between 2021 and 2023 developed long-COVID, and in more than half of them the symptoms persisted for two years.

14 Mar 2025

National survey reveals high public interest in medically tailored food programs

Researchers have conducted the first national survey on public awareness and perceptions of food, health, and Food is Medicine programs.

14 Mar 2025

Maternal high-fat diets linked to liver stress in unborn babies

When mothers eat a diet high in fat and sugars, their unborn babies can develop liver stress that continues into early life.

14 Mar 2025

Struggling with weight? Eat more legumes, cut red meat, and skip soda

Diets rich in whole grains, nuts, legumes, and fruits help reduce obesity risk, while red meat and sugary drinks increase it. Researchers reviewed global evidence to identify which foods support or hinder weight management.

13 Mar 2025

How gut health shapes heart disease risk — and what you can do about it

A new review highlights how gut microbiome imbalances contribute to cardiovascular disease by altering short-chain fatty acids, TMAO, and inflammatory pathways. The study emphasizes the potential of prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary changes to restore gut health and reduce heart disease risk.

13 Mar 2025

RSV hospitalization rates rise with age and chronic conditions in older adults

Among older adults in Spain, hospitalization rates from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection increases progressively with age and is more likely among people with other health issues and who live in nursing homes, according to a study published in Eurosurveillance.

13 Mar 2025

Night shifts and sleep debt linked to higher infection risk in nurses

Researchers determine how sleep duration, sleep debt, and shift work impact the risk of infections among Norwegian nurses.

13 Mar 2025

How eating more calories helps lower asthma risk in children - but only up to a point

Children and adolescents in the U.S. who consume higher amounts of dietary energy have a lower risk of asthma, but this protective effect stops beyond 56.442 kcal per kilogram of body weight per day. The study found an L-shaped relationship, suggesting that insufficient energy intake may heighten asthma risk.

12 Mar 2025

Waist-to-height ratio more accurate than BMI for detecting childhood obesity

Body mass index (BMI) was almost three times more likely to classify children as overweight than waist circumference-to-height ratio, according to a new study.

12 Mar 2025

Breast cancer deaths expected to fall in the EU and UK by 2025 across most age groups

Death rates from breast cancer will fall in 2025 in every age group in the EU and the UK apart from in EU patients aged 80 years and older. In these older patients, overall mortality rates from the disease are predicted to rise by nearly 10% in 2025.

12 Mar 2025