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 Management

Obesity and Heart Disease

Obesity and Arthritis

Dieting for Obese Children

Obesity and Autism

Obesity and Cancer

Obesity and Skin Problems

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity and Sleep

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

See more featured articles »

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity in Children

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity and Stress

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Exercise

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Obesity and Fractures

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and Genetics

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity and Sexual Health

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity Epidemiology

Obesity, What Can be Done?

Obesity and Depression

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

Obesity and Anesthesia

Obesity in Adults

Latest Obesity News and Research

Weight loss and anti inflammatory drugs combine to combat leukemia

Obesity can act as fuel for leukemia, according to a study led by Indiana University School of Medicine scientists.

14 Jul 2026

Mitochondrial DNA mutations link to cardiometabolic parameters in metabolic syndrome

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variability, especially heteroplasmy, is believed to affect cellular immunobiogenesis, particularly in monocytes in metabolic syndrome (MetS).

14 Jul 2026

Tracking Lassa fever survivors provides crucial clues for future vaccines

The University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD), has announced the launch of a research study to understand how Lassa fever survivors fight and overcome Lassa virus infection.

14 Jul 2026

Integrating gene signatures and multi omics improves liver cancer treatment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains highly fatal due to late diagnosis and scarce early biomarkers.

14 Jul 2026

Researchers propose simple finger prick test to track metabolic health

Researchers writing in Frontiers in Science propose using simple tests to track metabolic health in non-communicable diseases, which cause three in four deaths worldwide.

14 Jul 2026

Semaglutide dose may matter more than weight loss for heart health

The study shows semaglutide's cardiovascular benefits are more closely tied to attained dose than weight loss, challenging existing treatment assumptions.

14 Jul 2026

Sleep patterns influence eating habits and metabolic health

Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, your sleep patterns can tell a lot about a person's eating habits and subsequently the potential health risks.

13 Jul 2026

Muscle health plays crucial role in diabetes risk, study finds

A major new international study led by Curtin University, has found diabetes risk is about more than just body weight or obesity, revealing muscle health also likely plays a big role in whether people will develop the condition.

13 Jul 2026

GLP-1 weight loss may reduce first-impression penalties in relationships and hiring

An NBER working paper found that GLP-1 initiation and associated weight loss were followed by higher partnership formation among initially single women and greater employment entry among women who were not employed. The findings suggest that part of the female obesity penalty may arise when prospective partners and employers form first impressions, although the observational analysis did not directly prove discrimination

13 Jul 2026

Study: Bariatric surgery is safe, effective for obese adolescents and young adults

A new study from researchers at LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center, FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Metamor Institute demonstrates that metabolic and bariatric surgery can be delivered safely and effectively for adolescents and young adults living with severe obesity, offering promising improvements in weight loss and obesity-related health conditions.

13 Jul 2026

New consensus provides updated guidance for managing prolactinoma tumors

Prolactinomas are the most common functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumors, accounting for nearly half of all hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas.

13 Jul 2026

Study reveals substantial rise in Latin American dementia rates

A new study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Newcastle University in the U.K. finds that the share of adults living with dementia rose substantially across several Latin American and Caribbean sites over the past two decades.

13 Jul 2026

Nearly one in 10 Britons use or want weight-loss medication

The prevalence of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight management in Great Britain highlights public interest and concerns over safety and prescribing practices.

13 Jul 2026

Study links GLP-1 treatment to fewer alcohol drinking days

Current GLP-1 receptor agonist prescriptions were associated with modestly lower AUDIT-C scores in a large, diverse US cohort. The difference appeared to reflect less frequent drinking rather than fewer drinks per occasion or fewer binge-drinking episodes.

13 Jul 2026

Gut microbiota may shape eating behavior and guide new obesity treatments

The review shows how gut microbiota may influence appetite, food reward, inflammation, and energy balance through the gut-brain axis. Microbiota-targeted approaches could support future treatments for obesity and eating disorders, but clinical evidence remains limited.

12 Jul 2026

Cold-exposed mothers pass metabolic protection to male rat offspring through milk

Maternal cold exposure during early pregnancy improved glucose control and reduced liver fat in male rat offspring, with benefits persisting into late adulthood. The findings implicate a breast milk LCA, gut microbiota, and Th17 immune pathway, while human cohort data showed an observational link between winter conception and lower MASLD risk.

12 Jul 2026

Harvard University hosts the world's largest conference dedicated to longevity biotechnology

The 13th Aging Research & Drug Discovery (ARDD) Meeting, the world's largest conference dedicated to longevity biotechnology, will take place from October 1-3, 2026, at the David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University.

11 Jul 2026

Genetic risk knowledge alone fails to curb obesity, study shows

Does informing people about their genetic risk of obesity help them change their habits and lose excess weight? A study, published in the journal Obesity Reviews by scientists including researchers from SWPS University, shows that knowledge about one's genes alone is not enough.

11 Jul 2026

Insilico Medicine founder to highlight sustainable longevity at BIO Asia-Taiwan

Dr. Alex Zhavoronkov, Founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, has been invited to attend BIO Asia-Taiwan, which will be held from July 15 to 19 in Taiwan, China.

11 Jul 2026

Global hotspots where breast cancer and atrial fibrillation overlap

Investigating breast cancer and atrial fibrillation overlap, this study highlights key risk factors, underscoring the need for integrated prevention approaches.

10 Jul 2026