Body Mass Index News and Research

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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

Brain age gap may influence the relationship between cognitive impairment risk factors

The difference between the brain's predicted age and actual chronological age, called a brain age gap, may influence the relationship between cognitive impairment risk factors, like high blood pressure and diabetes, and a person's cognitive performance, also known as thinking and memory skills, according to a study published June 18, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

19 Jun 2025

FIM programs show promise in improving diet quality and food security

Food is medicine (FIM) programs that incorporate healthy food into health care for people with or at high risk for chronic disease show great potential in improving diet quality and food security, but additional research is needed to understand clinical outcomes, according to a systematic review of randomized controlled trials in the U.S conducted by the American Heart Association.

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

Cognitive decline tied to gut microbes and nutritional access

A new study led in part by Mount Sinai researchers has found a compelling link between the composition of the gut microbiome and the risk of cognitive impairment (RCI) in adults, underscoring the complex role that both biology and social determinants-such as food insecurity-play in brain health.

18 Jun 2025

Can a Japanese diet help with depression? Large study says yes

A large cross-sectional study of 12,499 Japanese workers found that higher adherence to traditional or modified Japanese diets was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that culturally rooted dietary patterns may support mental well-being, especially among educated adults.

18 Jun 2025

New data show COVID-19 triggers spike in new diabetes cases

A large cohort study in California state prisons found that COVID-19 infection modestly but significantly increases the risk of developing new-onset diabetes. The elevated risk persists for months after infection, even when accounting for confounding factors and diagnostic intensity.

18 Jun 2025

New molecular atlas offers unprecedented insight into human kidney function

The kidney, a critical organ for waste filtration and fluid regulation, is the subject of a groundbreaking molecular mapping project that could reshape our understanding of renal health.

18 Jun 2025

Stanford study identifies gene signature that predicts immune health

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, information began to trickle in about who was at higher risk of a dangerous outcome from infection. Men. Those over 65. Smokers. Those with obesity.

18 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 linked to lower risk of psychiatric disorders than GLP-1 drugs

People who have metabolic and bariatric surgery are significantly less likely to develop psychiatric disorders compared to those who take weekly injections of GLP-1 anti-obesity medications, according to a new study presented today at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting.

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

Minor complication rates higher among Black patients after bariatric procedures

Black patients are more likely to experience minor complications after metabolic and bariatric surgery than White patients, according to new study presented today at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery 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

Machine learning identifies key lifestyle factors for healthy brain function

A new study offers insight into the health and lifestyle indicators - including diet, physical activity and weight - that align most closely with healthy brain function across the lifespan.

16 Jun 2025