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 Fast Food

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Obesity and Depression

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Autism

Obesity Epidemiology

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity and Diabetes

See more featured articles »

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

Obesity, What Can be Done?

Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity and Heart Disease

Dieting for Obese Children

Obesity Management

Obesity in Children

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity and Skin Problems

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity and Stress

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

Obesity and Sexual Health

Obesity and Sleep

Obesity and Cancer

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Anesthesia

Obesity in Adults

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity and Fractures

Obesity and Arthritis

Latest Obesity News and Research

Deep learning AI model identifies first-of-its-kind biomarker of chronic stress

Using a deep learning AI model, researchers identified the first-of-its-kind biomarker of chronic stress detectable through routine imaging, according to research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

25 Nov 2025

Ultra-processed foods linked to rise in prediabetes risk

The study reveals that ultra-processed foods heighten prediabetes risk in young adults with obesity history, stressing the importance of healthy eating habits.

25 Nov 2025

Genetic factors behind impulsive choices tied to metabolic and mental health

Researchers from University of California San Diego have identified 11 genetic regions linked to delay discounting - the tendency to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones - shedding new light on how impulsive decision-making relates to both mental and physical health.

24 Nov 2025

Study reveals metabolic benefits of reducing ultra-processed foods in older adults

A controlled feeding study out of South Dakota State University shows that older adults who ate fewer ultra-processed foods naturally consumed fewer calories, lost weight and abdominal fat, and showed improvements in insulin, nutrient-sensing hormones, and inflammation.

24 Nov 2025

GLP-1 discontinuation associated with more weight gain and pregnancy complications

In a study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham, pregnant individuals who stopped taking popular weight loss GLP-1 medications before or early in their pregnancy tended to gain more weight and have higher risks of diabetes and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, and experienced preterm delivery more so than people who had never taken GLP-1 drugs.

24 Nov 2025

New study links untreated sleep apnea to higher Parkinson’s disease risk

New research reveals that people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease. However, they can significantly reduce the risk by improving the quality of their sleep by using continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP.

24 Nov 2025

Gaining too little or too much weight in pregnancy affects birth outcomes

The review of 1.6 million pregnancies shows diverse weight gain impacts, stressing the urgency for updated guidelines to improve maternal and infant health.

24 Nov 2025

Higher teen blood pressure predicts who develops heart disease

A study reveals that adolescent blood pressure levels are strong predictors of coronary atherosclerosis, emphasizing the importance of monitoring in youth.

24 Nov 2025

American Heart Association honors schools and students for fighting childhood obesity

One in every five American children and teens is obese; that's up 35% from 2000, as severe childhood obesity rates have nearly doubled in that time.

22 Nov 2025

Combined healthy eating and exercise linked to greater reductions in visceral fat

Improving diet and increasing physical activity levels together may be more effective at preventing weight gain – particularly harmful fat inside the abdomen – than just changing one of these behaviours, new research from the University of Cambridge suggests.

21 Nov 2025

Ultraprocessed diets affect teens and young adults differently

A study reveals that adolescents consume more calories on ultraprocessed diets, highlighting a critical vulnerability in modern food environments.

21 Nov 2025

Oral GLP-1 pill shows strong weight loss and blood sugar benefits in adults with diabetes

A new oral GLP-1 medication can help adults with obesity and Type 2 diabetes lose more weight and improve their blood sugar levels compared to a placebo, according to findings from the ATTAIN-2 trial led by a UTHealth Houston researcher.

20 Nov 2025

Nationwide study maps epilepsy incidence rates among older adults in the United States

A first-of-its-kind nationwide study has mapped epilepsy incidence rates among older adults in the United States and identified key social and environmental factors associated with the neurological condition.

20 Nov 2025

Study compares GLP-1 drug benefits and finds substantial variation in clinical effects

GLP-1 receptor agonists improve glycaemic control and provide renal, metabolic, and selective cardiovascular benefits in people with type 2 diabetes, based on an umbrella review of 17 meta-analyses. However, these agents consistently increase gastrointestinal adverse effects and show important distinctions between class-level outcomes and individual drug effects, particularly for semaglutide.

20 Nov 2025

Researchers identify the key habits that help adults eat more slowly

Eating slowly and chewing well in Japanese adults were strongly associated with savoring food and avoiding eating with a full mouth, with oral health playing an important supporting role. These behaviours varied across age and gender groups, highlighting cultural eating practices and dental factors that shape how people eat across adulthood.

20 Nov 2025

Evidence links severe gum disease to erectile dysfunction and broader men’s health risks

A healthy mouth is also key to a healthy body, as gum disease has been linked to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's.

20 Nov 2025

Aged blood vessel cells play key role in the development of metabolic disorders

Investigators from the Center for Advanced Gerotherapeutics at Cedars-Sinai found that aged blood vessel cells play a key role in the development of metabolic disorders, including diabetes.

20 Nov 2025

Can black cumin help fight obesity?

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20 Nov 2025

Global experts map out the practical steps that help extend life expectancy

The 1st World Longevity Summit in Kyotango, Japan brought together global experts to share advances in aging biology, lifestyle medicine, and community-based strategies for healthy longevity. Its joint declaration identified four pillars – social connection, plant-based diets, daily activity, and gratitude with purpose – as core foundations for extending healthy life expectancy worldwide.

19 Nov 2025

Study finds people with type 1 diabetes have higher bladder cancer risk

People with type 1 diabetes (previously called juvenile diabetes) are 4.29 times more likely to develop bladder cancer, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

19 Nov 2025