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 Anesthesia

Obesity, What Can be Done?

Obesity and Skin Problems

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Autism

Obesity and Sexual Health

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity in Adults

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

See more featured articles »

Obesity Epidemiology

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity and Arthritis

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity Management

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Obesity and Cancer

Obesity and Depression

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity in Children

Dieting for Obese Children

Obesity and Fractures

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity and Heart Disease

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Obesity and Sleep

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity and Stress

Latest Obesity News and Research

Study reveals immune traffic controller hijacked by common virus

In a major scientific breakthrough, researchers from Monash University and the Lions Eye Institute have discovered a tissue protein that acts as a central 'traffic controller' for immune cells and can be hijacked by a virus to weaken immune responses.

21 Jan 2026

Long-term proton pump inhibitor use not linked to stomach cancer

The long term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a class of drugs widely used to treat acid reflux and ulcers, may not be linked to any increased risk of developing gastric (stomach) cancer, finds a study of Nordic health data published by The BMJ today.

21 Jan 2026

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs show early promise for treating addiction

This systematic review evaluates preclinical and clinical evidence on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as potential treatments for substance use disorders. Findings show consistent reductions in drug- and alcohol-seeking behaviors in animal models, while human evidence remains limited, heterogeneous, and preliminary.

21 Jan 2026

NuSHs can be a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing MASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), represent the most common chronic liver diseases in Western populations, driven largely by obesity and insulin resistance.

21 Jan 2026

Nutrition experts call for dietary fiber recognition as an essential nutrient

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka nutrition experts are calling for dietary fiber to be officially recognized internationally as an essential nutrient - the first 'new' essential nutrient in more than 50 years.

21 Jan 2026

New review explores how stress uniquely affects children

Most research on the health effects of stress focuses on adults, but a new review looks at how stress uniquely affects children.

21 Jan 2026

Tracing the decline in American heart disease mortality

Following a five-year upward trend likely impacted by the COVID pandemic, the number of heart disease and stroke deaths has declined, yet, heart disease and stroke still kill more people in the U.S. each year than any other cause, according to data reported in the 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of U.S. and Global Data From the American Heart Association.

21 Jan 2026

Prenatal wildfire smoke exposure linked to higher autism risk in children

Exposure to wildfire smoke during the final months of pregnancy may raise the risk that a child is later diagnosed with autism, according to a new study led by Tulane University researchers.

20 Jan 2026

Algae may help meet future protein demand without straining the planet

This narrative review evaluates clinical evidence on algae and algal proteins as sustainable, nutrient-dense food sources with high protein quality and bioactive compounds. Findings suggest potential benefits for muscle protein synthesis, cardiometabolic markers, immune modulation, and antioxidant status, while emphasizing heterogeneity, short-term data, and the need for longer clinical trials.

20 Jan 2026

Scientists discover why patients with chronic kidney disease die of heart problems

Scientists have discovered an answer to the longstanding mystery of why more than half of patients with chronic kidney disease ultimately die of cardiovascular problems: Their kidneys produce a substance that poisons the heart.

20 Jan 2026

How "old RNA" reshapes sperm metabolism

Increasing paternal age has been linked to elevated health risks for the next generation, including higher risks of obesity and stillbirth. But what drives this increased risk remains unknown.

20 Jan 2026

Lung cancer deaths leveling off for EU women, except in Spain

After increasing for more than 25 years, lung cancer death rates are finally levelling off among women in European Union (EU) countries apart from Spain, according to predictions of mortality rates from the disease for 2026.

19 Jan 2026

Students who game the most show lower diet quality and higher BMI, study finds

A national study of Australian undergraduates suggests that spending more than 10 hours a week gaming is associated with poorer diet quality, higher body weight, and disrupted sleep, highlighting the need for healthier gaming habits rather than less gaming altogether.

18 Jan 2026

Blood metabolites reveal who will develop type 2 diabetes years before diagnosis

This large prospective study integrated blood metabolomics, genetics, and lifestyle data to identify hundreds of metabolites associated with long-term risk of type 2 diabetes in initially healthy adults. A validated 44-metabolite signature improved risk prediction beyond conventional factors, offering insights into biological pathways and opportunities for earlier, more precise prevention.

18 Jan 2026

Gut microbiota analysis offers insights into how ultra processed foods affect health

To gain more knowledge about how ultra-processed food affects us, we need new research methods, claim researchers. Now they are looking to better understand our intestinal flora.

16 Jan 2026

Targeting microRNA communication reverses pancreatic cancer's immune suppression

In a unique finding, researchers at Georgetown's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center discovered that when pancreatic cancer cells send out tiny particles that are packed with certain microRNA molecules, nearby immune cells called macrophages are reprogrammed to help the tumor grow instead of engaging in their regular role of fighting the tumor.

16 Jan 2026