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.

Obesity and Fractures

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity and Sexual Health

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Obesity and Anesthesia

Obesity and Depression

Obesity Management

See more featured articles »

Obesity and Stress

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Autism

Obesity and Heart Disease

Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity, What Can be Done?

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity Epidemiology

Dieting for Obese Children

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity and Sleep

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity and Skin Problems

Obesity in Children

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity and Cancer

Obesity and Arthritis

Obesity in Adults

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Latest Obesity News and Research

Study shows long-term weight benefits for breastfeeding mothers

Breastfeeding does not only affect your weight while you are breastfeeding. Women gain up to 6.5 kilos less on average later in life if they breastfeed for at least three months, according to a new study.

9 Apr 2026

Fat-producing enzyme identified as key driver of damage in Parkinson’s disease

A fat-producing enzyme in brain cells may play a key role in driving damage in Parkinson's disease and could offer a new target for treatment, scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have found.

9 Apr 2026

Self-employment linked to lower heart disease risks in Hispanic women

Self-employed Hispanic women report less high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, poor health and binge drinking compared to Hispanic women working for salary or wages, new research suggests.

8 Apr 2026

Why early-onset cancers are rising and how researchers plan to stop them

Early-onset cancers are rising worldwide, and this Cell Perspective argues that cancer prevention must move beyond static risk-factor snapshots toward life-course exposure mapping, tissue-level biology, and dynamic estimates of preventability. The authors propose three linked frameworks to speed discovery of cancer causes and translate those findings into more precise prevention and interception strategies.

8 Apr 2026

Long-term excess weight is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular risk

Obesity is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but people's weights can shift over time, and little is known about the cumulative impact of excess weight.

8 Apr 2026

Insilico Medicine nominates AI-driven drug candidate for cancer, Cushing's syndrome and obesity

The NR3C1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1) gene encodes the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a nuclear receptor vital for maintaining physiological homeostasis, and inhibition of NR3C1 could increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to standard chemotherapy, particularly in ovarian cancer.

8 Apr 2026

Study finds genetic basis for GLP-1 weight loss efficacy and side effects

23andMe Research Institute, a nonprofit medical research organization, announced the publication of a study that identifies genetic predictors for GLP-1 weight loss efficacy and side effects.

8 Apr 2026

Sugar intake may reduce effectiveness of relaxation exercises

How does sugar affect relaxation exercises? A new study carried out by researchers from the University of Konstanz provides revealing insights into the connection between blood glucose and the autonomic nervous system: The intake of sugar counteracts relaxation.

7 Apr 2026

Early genetic signals connect diabetes subgroups to heart disease risk

A growing body of research shows that diabetes can be stratified into five different subgroups. Researchers at Lund University have now investigated whether a person's genetic predisposition to different diabetes subgroups can help assess the risk of developing coronary artery disease.

7 Apr 2026

New obesity definition could delay treatment and widen health gaps

The Lancet obesity framework aims to improve risk assessment but risks delaying treatment and deepening health inequities, according to recent evaluations.

7 Apr 2026

Prickly pear may pack a surprising punch against metabolic syndrome

This narrative review examines how Opuntia ficus-indica fruit, or prickly pear, may help target multiple features of metabolic syndrome through its fiber, betalains, polyphenols, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds. The authors conclude that the fruit shows promising mechanistic and preclinical potential, but stronger human trials are still needed before firm clinical claims can be made.

6 Apr 2026

Low birthweight increases stroke risk independent of adult BMI

In new research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO2026) in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May), researchers show an increased risk of stroke in young adulthood for children of low birthweight, independent of their body mass index (BMI) as young adults or gestational age at birth.

3 Apr 2026

Semaglutide for weight loss was linked to a sharp drop in alcohol use in this case report

A 2026 case report describes a 34-year-old man with obesity and alcohol use disorder whose semaglutide treatment for weight loss was associated with a marked drop in drinking over 10 months, with his AUDIT score falling from 27 to 7 and alcohol use dropping from about 15 drinks per week to half a beer per month. The authors frame this as a promising but preliminary finding that adds to growing evidence on GLP-1 drugs and alcohol use, while also stressing that this was a single case and that better AUD screening in family medicine remains important.

2 Apr 2026

Sleep apnea raises risk of cardiovascular events and death

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 May) shows that those living with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have a 71% higher risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) or death from any cause (all-cause mortality) compared with those not living with OSA.

2 Apr 2026

Obesity, sleep, smoking, and inactivity show the strongest links to hypertension in U.S. adults

A cross-sectional analysis of 20,912 U.S. adults found that obesity, overweight, inadequate physical activity, smoking, and short or long sleep were each associated with higher odds of hypertension, while overall diet quality by HEI-2015 was not significantly associated. Sleep associations differed by sex, and lower sodium intake remained linked to lower odds of hypertension in sensitivity analyses.

2 Apr 2026

Occasional heavy drinking poses major risk to liver health

People may assume that if they drink lightly during the week or month, heavy drinking on the occasional Friday or Saturday may not cause their liver harm.

2 Apr 2026

New obesity definition may delay treatment and complicate diagnosis

Redefining obesity based not only on body mass index (BMI) but on whether excess body fat is causing measurable health problems may complicate diagnosis and delay treatment, according to an Endocrine Society guideline communication published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

2 Apr 2026

American Heart Association's 9 diet rules to lower heart disease risk

The AHA's dietary guidance emphasizes food choices over fad diets to reduce heart disease risk and improve cardiovascular health across all life stages.

2 Apr 2026

Wegovy® (semaglutide injection) 2.4 mg recommended by NICE to reduce risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, in adults with established cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2)

NICE has recommended Wegovy® (semaglutide injection) 2.4 mg as the first GLP-1 RA to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2).

From Novo Nordisk 2 Apr 2026

Walking remains most popular activity despite low guideline adherence

In a study of U.S. adults, walking was, by far, the most popular leisure-time physical activity, while rural residents also enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing, and urban residents more commonly reported running, weightlifting and dance. Urban residents were more likely than rural residents to meet physical activity guidelines.

1 Apr 2026