Body Mass Index (BMI) News and Research

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Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure that relates body weight to height. BMI is sometimes used to measure total body fat and whether a person is a healthy weight. Excess body fat is linked to an increased risk of some diseases including heart disease and some cancers.

Mediterranean diet boosts sperm health while ultra-processed foods lower fertility, study finds

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is linked to improved sperm parameters in men, while high intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with poorer semen quality. These associations are strongest in men with normal FSH levels, suggesting dietary patterns may influence male fertility.

23 Jun 2025

Cagrilintide and semaglutide together drive record weight loss in global trial

A 68-week phase 3 trial found that coadministered cagrilintide and semaglutide led to significant and clinically meaningful weight loss in adults with obesity but no diabetes. The combination outperformed either drug alone and improved multiple cardiometabolic health markers.

23 Jun 2025

Amycretin delivers unprecedented weight loss in early trial for obesity treatment

Once-weekly amycretin, a novel peptide activating GLP-1, amylin, and calcitonin receptors, produced rapid, substantial, and sustained weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity during a phase 1b/2a trial. The treatment was generally well tolerated, with mostly mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects, supporting further investigation in larger, longer studies.

23 Jun 2025

US children who eat more fruit have less abdominal fat

Research shows that increased fruit consumption is associated with reduced abdominal fat in children, highlighting its importance in obesity prevention.

23 Jun 2025

Scientists discover on/off gene switches that could revolutionize personalized medicine

Scientists identified 473 human genes that act as genetic “on/off switches,” shaping disease risk through tissue-specific or universal patterns regulated by DNA changes and hormones. These findings could pave the way for more precise diagnostics and personalized therapies across cancers, immune, skin, and metabolic diseases.

22 Jun 2025

Half of your kid’s food might be ultra-processed and that’s a problem

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) contributed nearly half of daily energy intake among 8–12-year-old Australian children. In older children (10–12), higher UPF intake by weight was linked to increased abdominal obesity and higher BMI z-scores.

19 Jun 2025

Aspirin lowers diabetes risk during COVID-19, but not without side effects

A large real-world Italian cohort study found that daily low-dose aspirin use significantly lowered the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The protective effect appears linked to aspirin’s anti-inflammatory properties, though bleeding risks require caution.

19 Jun 2025

Weight loss surgery leads to significant boost in self esteem

Self-esteem scores more than doubled within one year of weight-loss surgery, according to a new study* presented today at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting.

19 Jun 2025

Intermittent fasting shows similar weight loss benefits to traditional diets

Intermittent fasting diets appear to have similar benefits to traditional calorie-restricted diets for weight loss, suggests an analysis of trial evidence published by The BMJ today.

19 Jun 2025

Compound-level diet analysis sheds light on hidden triggers in IBD

Dutch researchers identified specific food compounds that influence remission and flare risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The study shows compound-level dietary analysis could help personalize IBD management and clarify conflicting advice about diet.

18 Jun 2025

What matters more for diabetes risk: lifestyle or body weight?

A large, multi-ethnic US cohort study found that combining healthy lifestyle factors—non-smoking, regular physical activity, a healthy diet, and moderate alcohol consumption into a Lifestyle Risk Factor Index (LSRI) was linked to a significantly lower risk of type 2 diabetes. However, BMI was a stronger predictor of diabetes risk, and the impact of lifestyle varied across ethnic groups.

18 Jun 2025

Global warming fuels an alarming increase in obstructive sleep apnea cases

Global warming significantly raises the risk and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), especially on hotter nights. A multinational sensor-based study links temperature-driven OSA increases to major losses in healthy life years and billions in economic costs.

17 Jun 2025

What 300 grams of ultra-processed food a day does to your diabetes risk

A dose-response meta-analysis of 12 cohort studies finds that higher intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is linked to a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The association remains even after adjusting for BMI, diet quality, and energy intake, with a steeper risk increase above 300 g/day.

17 Jun 2025

Bariatric surgery leads to greater weight loss than GLP-1 drugs after two years

Sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass were associated with about five-times more weight loss than weekly injections of GLP-1 receptor agonists semaglutide or tirzepatide, at the end of two years, according to a new head-to-head real-world study presented today at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting.

17 Jun 2025

Higher BMI linked to increased risk of complications after bariatric surgery

The higher a person's body mass index (BMI), the higher their risk for complications after bariatric surgery, especially those with BMI of 50 or more, according to a new study presented today at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting.

17 Jun 2025

Waist-to-height ratio found to predict liver damage better than BMI

Excess fat mass estimated by waist circumference-to-height ratio predicts the risk of liver damage better than body mass index (BMI) estimated obesity, a new study shows.

11 Jun 2025

Chromium-rich fiber supplement keeps you fuller and reduces insulin spikes

A single dose of a chromium-enriched glucomannan-fructo-oligosaccharide fiber complex significantly reduced postprandial insulin and increased fullness in healthy adults, without affecting blood glucose. These findings highlight the potential of this functional fiber blend to support appetite control and metabolic health.

10 Jun 2025

Is it time to rethink dairy? Here’s what 25 years of research reveals for women

A 25-year Finnish cohort study found that higher intake of liquid dairy products lowers the risk of osteoporotic and general fractures in older women. Cheese consumption was specifically linked to reduced hip fracture risk, while overall fracture risk was unaffected by cheese.

10 Jun 2025

Real-world study finds lower weight loss with GLP-1 drugs due to early discontinuation

A Cleveland Clinic study shows that semaglutide and tirzepatide – injectable GLP-1 drugs for obesity – produce smaller weight loss in a real-world setting because patients discontinue treatment or use lower maintenance dosages.

10 Jun 2025

What happens to your body and mind during a five-day water fast?

A five-day water-only fast led to significant weight, fat, and lean muscle loss in middle-aged women, along with improved mood and marked changes in metabolic and inflammatory markers. The study also found that psychological traits like emotional intelligence and impulsivity influenced the amount of fat and muscle lost during fasting.

9 Jun 2025