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

Weak brain circuit connection found to influence overeating and obesity

Why can some people easily stop eating when they are full and others can't, which can lead to obesity?

16 May 2024

Global life expectancy to rise by nearly 5 years by 2050, GBD 2021 study predicts

The latest findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021, published today in The Lancet, forecast that global life expectancy will increase by 4.9 years in males and 4.2 years in females between 2022 and 2050.

16 May 2024

USC researcher receives $3.1M to study early brain development in babies born to diabetic mothers

It has long been understood that pregnant women with diabetes are more likely to have children with obesity than women who do not have diabetes during pregnancy.

16 May 2024

Text messages with financial rewards boost weight loss in obese men, study finds

Study found that combining behavioral text messages with financial incentives promotes significant weight loss in obese men, while text messages alone do not.

16 May 2024

Bariatric surgery linked to reduced breast cancer risk in obese women with hyperinsulinemia

Bariatric surgery is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in women with obesity. These are the findings of a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg.

16 May 2024

New therapy shows greater weight loss in mice by targeting brain's appetite center

A groundbreaking paper in Nature describes a promising new therapy for obesity that leads to greater weight loss in mice than existing medications.

16 May 2024

Does discrimination cause harm to the body?

Researchers investigate whether experiencing discrimination is associated with accelerated biological processes of aging.

16 May 2024

Gut microbiota and obesity: New study shows promising results with probiotic and prebiotic intervention

The effect of a low-calorie, sufficient fiber regimen combined with probiotic supplements and physical activity on health, body composition, and physique.

16 May 2024

Anti-obesity medications slash heart disease risk in obese patients, study finds

A study in the journal Obesity evaluated the impact of new anti-obesity medications (AOMs) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) among obese individuals, finding that these medications reduce the risk of CVD complications, particularly heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

15 May 2024

Menthol-derived molecules: promising candidates for anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity therapy

Modified derivatives of natural products have led to significant therapeutic advances and commercial success in recent times.

15 May 2024

Research quantifies impact of childhood obesity on long-term health and life expectancy

New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) has, for the first time, quantified the impact of different aspects of childhood obesity on long-term health and life expectancy.

15 May 2024

Study proposes lower BMI cut-off for obesity in adults over 40

The internationally recognized body-mass index (BMI) cut-off point for obesity may not be appropriate for middle-aged and older men and women (aged 40-80 years), according to research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May).

15 May 2024

Technology alone insufficient for meaningful weight loss in obesity, study shows

A new Northwestern Medicine study shows that technology alone can't replace the human touch to produce meaningful weight loss in obesity treatment.

15 May 2024

New study reveals brain clearance of toxins is reduced during sleep and anesthesia

The adipose-neural axis plays an important role in arrhythmogenesis.

15 May 2024

Semaglutide shows significant weight loss and health benefits in four-year obesity study

A study in Nature Medicine evaluated the effects of semaglutide on weight and anthropometric outcomes in adults with obesity but without diabetes, finding significant weight loss and improved health metrics over four years. The study also highlighted the safety and tolerability of semaglutide across different BMI categories.

14 May 2024

Sustainable weight loss with personalized semaglutide dosing

New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) has explored the benefits of giving personalised doses of semaglutide to patients taking part in a weight loss programme and tapering them off the medication when they reach their target weight.

14 May 2024

Understanding body dysmorphia through WhatsApp profiles of individuals with obesity

New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) has found that many people who are living with obesity conceal their body in their WhatsApp profile pictures.

14 May 2024

Social media channels could be harnessed to provide information about obesity to young people

There is an urgent need to harness the potential of TikTok and other social media channels to provide scientific information about obesity to young people in engaging and accessible way, the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) will hear.

14 May 2024

Nursing homes wield pandemic immunity laws to duck wrongful death suits

In early 2020, with reports of covid-19 outbreaks making dire headlines, Trever Schapers worried about her father's safety in a nursing home in Queens.

14 May 2024

Western diet linked to chronic diseases by gut microbiota disruption

The Western diet disrupts gut microbiota and gut barrier function, increasing the risk of non-communicable chronic diseases through chronic low-grade inflammation.

13 May 2024