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.

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity in Adults

Obesity Epidemiology

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity and Skin Problems

Obesity and Heart Disease

Obesity and Hormones

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

Obesity, What Can be Done?

Obesity and Depression

Obesity and Fast Food

See more featured articles »

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Arthritis

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity and Anesthesia

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity and Autism

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity and Sleep

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Obesity and Cancer

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity and Sexual Health

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

What is Obesity Paradox?

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Obesity Management

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Dieting for Obese Children

Obesity and Stress

Obesity and Fractures

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

Obesity in Children

Obesity in Pregnancy

Latest Obesity News and Research

Research shows the effect of losing weight in preventing multiple diseases

Researchers have quantified the role of obesity in common long-term conditions, showing for the first time the effect of losing weight in preventing multiple diseases.

4 Feb 2026

Natural ovulation offers a safer path to IVF success

Researchers compare the effects of natural ovulation and external hormone replacement regimens for preparing the uterus before frozen embryo transfer.

4 Feb 2026

Poll: Many adults over 50 skip flu and COVID vaccines

This winter's brutal flu season isn't over, and COVID-19 cases have risen recently too. But a new poll taken in recent weeks shows that vaccination against both viruses lags among people 50 and over, and the national survey reveals key reasons why.

3 Feb 2026

Cardiologists highlight overlooked heart risks across women’s lives

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet awareness of cardiovascular risk—particularly among younger women and women of color—has stalled, even as rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol continue to rise.

3 Feb 2026

Most commercially insured patients live with chronic conditions

The majority (57.5 percent) of commercially insured patients had at least one chronic condition in 2024. The average allowed amount for a patient with no chronic conditions was $1,590, while the average allowed amount for a patient with one chronic condition was nearly double ($3,039).

2 Feb 2026

Clinical trial launched to test experimental intranasal spray against respiratory viruses

Last year, at least one million people in the U.S. were hospitalized for respiratory virus illnesses like the flu or COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2 Feb 2026

Men develop premature heart disease earlier than women

The study uncovers critical insights into sex-based heart disease risks, highlighting young adulthood as key for effective cardiovascular health interventions.

2 Feb 2026

Unprocessed beef does not worsen metabolic health in prediabetes

Short-term unprocessed beef intake shows no adverse effects on glucose regulation or metabolic health compared to poultry in individuals with prediabetes.

2 Feb 2026

When health insurance costs more than the mortgage

When Noah Hulsman, who owns a skate shop in Louisville, Kentucky, learned he no longer qualified for federal subsidies to help him pay for his "gold" Affordable Care Act health plan, the 37-year-old opted for skimpier coverage. But the deductible is about a quarter of his yearly income.

2 Feb 2026

FIU establishes hub for cardiovascular innovation

With cardiovascular disease remaining the leading cause of death in the United States, this Heart Month (February), FIU is establishing an interdisciplinary center designed to accelerate breakthroughs in heart disease research, education, and innovation.

30 Jan 2026

Navigating the multi-dimensional world of modern cancer research

An enduring challenge for the study of human cancer is just how complex it is: how many different ways there are for cancers to originate, progress, and spread in the people who are diagnosed with them.

30 Jan 2026

Daily coffee intake linked to fewer atrial fibrillation relapses

The study reveals that moderate coffee consumption may lower atrial fibrillation recurrence risk post-cardioversion, highlighting coffee's potential benefits.

30 Jan 2026

Ischemic stroke increases expectant mother's risk for another stroke during or soon after pregnancy

Having had a stroke caused by blocked blood vessels (ischemic stroke) more than doubled an expectant mother's odds of having another stroke during pregnancy and within six weeks of childbirth, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026.

29 Jan 2026

Eating melatonin-rich foods is linked to lower obesity and depression rates

This cross-sectional analysis of 8,320 Brazilian adults quantified melatonin intake from habitual diets and examined associations with multiple chronic health outcomes. Higher dietary melatonin intake was inversely associated with obesity and depression in a non-linear pattern, with no significant associations observed for other conditions.

28 Jan 2026

Eating beef as part of a healthy dietary pattern does not impact risk factors for type 2 diabetes

More than 135 million American adults are either living with or at risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D), elevating the need for more evidence-based dietary guidance to help this growing population achieve optimal health and reduce risks for T2D and its complications.

28 Jan 2026

WHO releases a new global guideline to create healthy school food environments

Healthy food in schools can help children develop healthy dietary habits for life, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which released a new global guideline on evidence-based policies and interventions to create healthy school food environments.

28 Jan 2026

Richer social environments linked to better cognitive health in aging adults

Research by an interdisciplinary team from McGill University and Université Laval provides new insights into the links between social factors and cognitive health among aging adults.

27 Jan 2026

Insilico Medicine and Qilu Pharmaceutical partner to develop AI-designed cardiometabolic drugs

Insilico Medicine, a clinical-stage biotechnology company powered by generative AI, and Qilu Pharmaceutical Group, a major comprehensive modern pharmaceutical enterprise in China, as well as its subsidiary Shanghai Qilu Pharmaceutical Research Center, today announced a strategic partnership on innovative drug development, leveraging Insilico's proprietary Pharma.AI platform to jointly develop small molecule inhibitors, focusing on specific targets for cardiometabolic disease management.

27 Jan 2026

Pancreatic and 'skinny fat' linked to brain health risks

The effect of obesity on brain health may depend not only on how much fat is in the body, but also on the areas of the body where fat is stored, according to a study published today in Radiology, the flagship journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

27 Jan 2026

Study identifies genes, smoking, and obesity as pneumonia risk factors

Researchers at the University of Oulu have identified genes that increase susceptibility to pneumonia. Alongside inherited risk factors, smoking and higher body mass were also found to raise the risk of developing the disease.

27 Jan 2026