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 in Children

Obesity and Sleep

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Skin Problems

Obesity and Depression

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity and Autism

Obesity and Arthritis

Obesity and Fractures

See more featured articles »

Obesity in Adults

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity, What Can be Done?

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity and Periodontitis

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Obesity in Pregnancy

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Obesity Management

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity and Anesthesia

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Obesity and Sexual Health

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Heart Disease

Dieting for Obese Children

Obesity and Stress

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity Epidemiology

Obesity and Cancer

Latest Obesity News and Research

Understanding leptin's dual function in MAFLD pathogenesis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a predominant chronic liver condition globally, intricately linked with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and metabolic syndrome.

14 Nov 2025

Off-label GLP-1 use highlights the cultural pressures driving body anxieties

New obesity drugs that were designed to treat diabetes and obesity are increasingly being used off-label by people without these conditions to achieve slimness and social approval rather than health gains. This perspective maps how such pharmacological thinness interacts with stigma, beauty ideals, digital culture, and inequality, and calls for multinational, intersectional research to understand its full impact.

13 Nov 2025

Family support helped adults in rural China to reduce blood pressure levels

New research found family support helped adults in rural China reduce their blood pressure.

13 Nov 2025

Underweight children face higher risk of stopping ADHD medication early

Children who are underweight are more likely to stop taking their ADHD medication within a year. These are the findings of a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg on methylphenidate, a common pharmacological treatment in ADHD.

13 Nov 2025

Mursla Bio collaborates with a leading global pharma company to advance biomarker-guided precision medicine in MASH

Mursla Bio, a leader in Extracellular Vesicle (EV) science on a mission to advance precision diagnostics and significantly improve chronic disease outcomes for at-risk patients, today announced a collaboration with a leading global pharmaceutical company recognized for its expertise in precision medicine and biomarker-guided drug development.

From Mursla Bio 13 Nov 2025

Income and social disparities found to influence dementia risk factors

People with lower incomes and people from racial and ethnic historically underrepresented groups in clinical studies are more likely to have modifiable risk factors for dementia, factors that could be changed to lower their risk, according to a study published November 12, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

12 Nov 2025

Doubling rates of childhood hypertension signal urgent health concern

The rate of children and adolescents experiencing high blood pressure worldwide nearly doubled between 2000 and 2020, according to a new meta-analysis published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal.

12 Nov 2025

What diet do people with type 2 diabetes really want? Study reveals flexibility beats strict meal plans

A large UK survey of adults with type 2 diabetes found that most prefer flexible, food-based diets—particularly moderate calorie restriction or low-carbohydrate plans, over formula-based regimens. Preferences varied by age, lifestyle, and desired outcomes, underscoring the need for personalized dietary support.

11 Nov 2025

Financial incentives increase medication adherence but do not improve blood pressure outcomes

People with high blood pressure were twice as likely to take their blood pressure medication regularly when offered daily chances to win cash rewards, yet they did not achieve better blood pressure measurements compared to people who were not offered financial rewards, according to a preliminary late-breaking science presentation today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025.

11 Nov 2025

GLP-1 drugs linked to improved survival in colon cancer patients

A new University of California San Diego study offers compelling evidence that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists - the class of drugs behind Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, for example - may do more than regulate blood sugar and weight.

11 Nov 2025

New expert recommendations redefine exercise as therapy for children with asthma

Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases among children, affecting nearly 475 million globally. For decades, exercise was discouraged due to the risk of triggering wheezing and breathlessness, known as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB).

11 Nov 2025

Blue Zones and ACLM launch certification empowering clinicians to promote longevity and well-being

Blue Zones and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) today launched the "Blue Zones Certification Course for Physicians and Health Professionals."

11 Nov 2025

Study provides a new perspective for optimizing School Feeding Programs

School Feeding Programs (SFPs), as crucial public policies for improving children's nutrition and development globally, have covered 388 million children across 161 countries.

11 Nov 2025

Mapping London’s food deserts and nutrition gaps

A study reveals London's food deserts, linking access to healthy food with income, culture, and transportation, highlighting urgent public health challenges.

11 Nov 2025

Study examines medication adherence in high-risk, low-income populations

People with high blood pressure were twice as likely to take their blood pressure medication regularly when offered daily chances to win cash rewards, yet they did not achieve better blood pressure measurements than people who were not offered financial rewards, a new study shows.

11 Nov 2025

Metformin shows promise in treating AFib recurrence after ablation

People with atrial fibrillation (AFib) and obesity may have fewer episodes of AFib after ablation if they take the diabetes medication metformin in addition to standard care, according to a preliminary, late-breaking science presentation today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025.

11 Nov 2025

Novel triple receptor agonist shows potent efficacy in lowering high triglycerides

In a small, short duration trial (12 weeks), a new medication called DR10624 reduced triglyceride levels in most patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia by more than 60%, according to a preliminary late-breaking science presentation today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025.

11 Nov 2025

Ultra-processed food consumption increases the risk for prediabetes in young adults

More than half of calories consumed in the United States come from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), items like fast food and packaged snacks that are often high in sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats.

10 Nov 2025

Diabetes drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide show real-world heart benefits

In a large real-world analysis across three U.S. healthcare databases, semaglutide and tirzepatide showed cardiovascular benefits consistent with randomized trials. Semaglutide lowered heart attack and stroke risk versus sitagliptin, while tirzepatide performed comparably to dulaglutide and semaglutide over one year.

10 Nov 2025