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 Sleep

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and Heart Disease

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

Obesity and Anesthesia

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Stress

Obesity and Hormones

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Obesity and Skin Problems

Obesity in Pregnancy

See more featured articles »

Obesity and Sexual Health

Obesity and Fractures

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Obesity and Autism

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Cancer

Obesity in Adults

Obesity Epidemiology

Obesity in Children

Obesity Management

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity and Exercise

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

Obesity and Infertility

What is Obesity Paradox?

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Depression

Obesity and Arthritis

Dieting for Obese Children

Obesity, What Can be Done?

Latest Obesity News and Research

Pharmacy expert calls for hybrid digital-human models in NHS healthcare

A pharmacy academic from Kingston University has provided special expertise to the UK Parliament on two key Health and Social Care Committee inquiries.

30 Jun 2026

Experts introduce updated framework for heart failure care worldwide

A new international expert consensus document refines and updates how heart failure is identified and classified, aiming to improve prevention, diagnosis and management of heart failure worldwide.

29 Jun 2026

Study links cardiovascular risk factors to visual impairment in Latinos

In the U.S., Hispanic/Latino populations are disproportionately at risk for eye diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, or vision loss tied to diabetes.

29 Jun 2026

Under-twos should avoid screen time to protect future health

Using screens during the first 1001 days of life can lead to developmental concerns for the next generation, researchers warn.

29 Jun 2026

Study links diabetes to worse long COVID health outcomes

People with diabetes who have had COVID-19 tend to recover more slowly, experience more long COVID complications, have a poorer quality of life, and require closer and more prolonged monitoring by medical teams.

29 Jun 2026

Simple blood test could identify the most effective obesity drug

Fasting blood tests measuring GLP-1 and GIP levels may predict obesity treatment response to semaglutide and tirzepatide, enhancing personalized therapy.

29 Jun 2026

One in three adults in England now lives with obesity

Obesity trends show significant disparities among demographics, stressing the importance of targeted prevention to address widening health inequalities.

29 Jun 2026

Brighter daytime light is linked to a lower dementia risk

The study finds that greater exposure to daytime light may lower dementia risk, pointing to light's role in enhancing circadian rhythms and cognitive function.

29 Jun 2026

Melatonin dampens fetal membrane inflammation linked to preterm birth

Melatonin reduced infection-related inflammation in human fetal membranes in an ex vivo model. The study suggests that this effect works partly through melatonin receptors and by suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

28 Jun 2026

New Florida initiative supports healthier lives for cancer survivors statewide

University of West Florida Assistant Professor of Public Health Dr. Karishma Chhabria Unrue has been awarded a nearly $825,000 grant through the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund to lead a statewide initiative focused on improving the health and well-being of breast and prostate cancer survivors.

27 Jun 2026

Single DNA injection provides long-lasting weight loss in mouse study

Scientists at The Wistar Institute have shown that a single injection of a small, circular piece of genetic instructions can produce weight loss and blood glucose control in murine models that lasts up to 10 times as long as incretin-mimicking drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

26 Jun 2026

Breastfeeding linked to longer sleep duration in one year old infants

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life because of its many proven benefits, including protection against infections and support for healthy long-term development.

26 Jun 2026

Semaglutide approval drove a surge in GLP-1 poison center exposures

Following semaglutide's approval, poison center reports of GLP-1 RA exposures doubled, revealing critical trends in patient safety and healthcare utilization.

26 Jun 2026

Could your birth characteristics influence colorectal cancer risk?

A California study links birth and parental factors to early-onset colorectal cancer risk, highlighting male sex and Hispanic ethnicity as key contributors.

26 Jun 2026

Childhood sugary drinks and fruit juice linked to higher adult blood pressure risk

The study finds sugary drinks and fruit juice linked to hypertension, highlighting whole fruit as a healthier alternative for long-term heart health.

26 Jun 2026

Neuroticism and adversity dominate depression and anxiety risk in UK Biobank study

In a UK Biobank study of 87,648 adults followed for 13.7 years, psychosocial factors accounted for the largest estimated population burden of depression and anxiety in both women and men. Neuroticism symptoms, childhood and adult adversity, obesity, chronic inflammation, and some reproductive factors in women were linked to incident mental health outcomes, although the PAF estimates remain theoretical and not proof of causality.

25 Jun 2026

Exercise, not liraglutide alone, drives vascular gains after obesity-related weight loss

A prespecified secondary analysis of the S-LiTE trial found that regular exercise reduced carotid artery wall thickness and circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines in adults with obesity who had already achieved substantial diet-induced weight loss. Liraglutide alone did not significantly improve these vascular or inflammatory markers, while exercise plus liraglutide also improved endothelial function biomarkers.

25 Jun 2026

Bariatric surgery linked to higher risk of developing alcohol problems

Your body absorbs alcohol much more rapidly after bariatric surgery. Patients need to know this when they choose the kind of surgery they will have.

25 Jun 2026

Recognizing perinatal heart failure early reduces life-threatening risks

Early detection and timely treatment of heart failure in pregnant or postpartum women are crucial to prevent serious complications, such as irregular heartbeat, stroke and death, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement, "Heart Failure Occurring in the Perinatal Period."

25 Jun 2026

Maternal blood test reveals prenatal methylation clues linked to autism risk

Researchers found that maternal plasma cell-free DNA methylation patterns in late pregnancy were associated with later autism diagnosis and maternal obesity in a high-likelihood ASD cohort. The findings suggest cfDNA may offer a minimally invasive way to study prenatal epigenetic changes linked to neurodevelopmental risk, but larger validation studies are needed.

25 Jun 2026