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

How do different people define 'healthy eating'?

A study in the journal Nutrients explored the perceptions of healthy eating among Spanish undergraduate students in nutrition and food science programs, revealing differences by gender and academic year.

2 May 2024

Study finds social and psychological factors fuel teen cravings for ultra-processed foods during screen time

A recent study explores how adolescents perceive and consume ultra-processed foods during screen time, revealing the strong influence of social, environmental, and psychological factors on these behaviors.

2 May 2024

Study uncovers causal genetic variant strongly associated with childhood obesity

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have identified a causal genetic variant strongly associated with childhood obesity.

2 May 2024

High testosterone levels in older men associated with greater risk of atrial fibrillation

Researchers investigated whether higher endogenous testosterone levels increase atrial fibrillation (AF) risk among healthy older males.

2 May 2024

ELRIG UK announces Profs Ijeoma Uchegbu and Marcus Schindler as keynote speakers at Drug Discovery 2024

Drug Discovery 2024: Connecting Minds, Transforming Science, Empowering Community will take place at ExCeL London from 2–3 October.

From ELRIG (UK) Ltd. 2 May 2024

Study shows synergistic effects of time-restricted eating and high-intensity functional training on health

Combining time-restricted eating with high-intensity functional training may improve body composition and cardiometabolic parameters more than either alone, according to a study published May 1, 2024 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Ranya Ameur and Rami Maaloul from the University of Sfax, Tunisia, and colleagues.

2 May 2024

New drug candidate reverses obesity in mice by transforming liver metabolism

A mitochondrial transcription inhibitor (IMT) shifted metabolism in high-fat diet mice toward fatty acid oxidation, leading to weight loss, reduced liver fat, and improved glucose tolerance.

1 May 2024

Study highlights differences in pancreatic cancer cells based on location

A new study has found that pancreatic cancer cells are different based on their location in the pancreas, providing new information about tumors that could lead to better targeted treatments.

30 Apr 2024

Study links endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure to poorer sleep and vitamin D deficiency

Study in the journal Nutrients links exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals with vitamin D deficiency and reduced sleep duration, suggesting a compounded negative impact on health.

30 Apr 2024

Specific class of drugs can reverse diet-induced obesity, fatty liver and diabetes in mice

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet may have found a new way to treat obesity and related disorders by targeting the cells' powerhouses, the mitochondria.

30 Apr 2024

Study reveals brown fat's built-in mechanism and potential obesity treatment

Brown fat, also known as brown adipose tissue (BAT), is a type of fat in our bodies that's different from the white fat around our belly and thighs that we are more familiar with.

29 Apr 2024

UK study confirms healthy habits can extend lifespan, even with genetic predispositions

The associations between lifestyle, genetic factors, and human longevity.

29 Apr 2024

Study questions the need for endotype-specific diets in diabetes management

Study finds minor differences in dietary adherence and its impact on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes across diabetes endotypes, indicating limited evidence for endotype-specific dietary guidelines.

28 Apr 2024

Study links long-term health risks with burn pit exposure in military veterans

Study links extended deployments at military bases with open burn pits to a higher risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, including COPD, asthma, and hypertension in veterans.

28 Apr 2024

Insights on the downsides of late-night screen time and health benefits of digital detox

According to a YouGov study on sleep, 87% of Britons say they look at their phone or tablet within an hour before going to bed, with 25% claiming they look at their phone immediately before going to sleep. On top of this, 74% of people say they keep their phones in the bedroom at night.

27 Apr 2024