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.

Metaflammation Explained: How Obesity, Diabetes, and Aging Are Connected

Obesity-associated metaflammation involves persistent, low-grade inflammation that disrupts insulin signaling and contributes to metabolic disease, with mechanisms that overlap with age-related inflammation. Weight loss and established metabolic treatments can reduce some inflammatory effects, while therapies targeting specific immune and microbial pathways remain under investigation.

Dieting for Obese Children

Obesity in Children

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Sexual Health

Obesity and Sleep

Obesity and Fractures

Obesity and Depression

Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity Management

Obesity and Arthritis

See more featured articles »

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity, What Can be Done?

Obesity and Heart Disease

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Blood Pressure

What is Obesity?

Obesity and Autism

Obesity in Adults

Obesity and Cancer

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Obesity Epidemiology

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity and Stress

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Skin Problems

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity and Anesthesia

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity and Diabetes

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

Latest Obesity News and Research

More screen time, less sleep: What researchers observed in children with obesity

A cross-sectional study of 70 children in Spain found that those with obesity reported more daily recreational screen time, shorter sleep duration, and more frequent chronic sleep disturbances than their normal-weight peers. Higher screen-time scores were significantly associated with greater odds of obesity, while the association with sleep disturbances did not reach statistical significance.

2 Nov 2026

Younger adults in America's famous Blue Zone are eating differently

A cross-sectional study of 615 adults in the Loma Linda Blue Zone area and surrounding communities found that vegetarian diets were more common among older adults and Seventh-day Adventists, with vegetarians also reporting significantly lower BMI than non-vegetarians. The findings raise concerns about whether younger generations are maintaining the region's traditional dietary practices, although further research is needed to establish whether vegetarian adherence is declining over time.

2 Nov 2026

Two healthy diets stood out in a study of more than 7,000 adults

In a cross-sectional analysis of 7,256 adults from the Maastricht Study, researchers found that greater adherence to the DASH and Dutch Healthy Diet patterns was associated with higher very-low-frequency (VLF) heart rate variability power, particularly among participants not taking beta-blockers. No significant associations were observed across time-domain HRV measures after full adjustment, and the findings do not establish that these diets improve cardiovascular function.

2 Nov 2026

Researchers explore why male and female brains adapt differently to overeating

Overeating alters neural pathways involved in feeding and metabolism, but how fast do these adaptive changes occur? And do these adaptations occur similarly in males and females?

2 Nov 2026

New study links cannabis use to increased cardiovascular risk

Cannabis use, including marijuana, appears to be linked with increased cardiovascular risk, especially for stroke, making it an important consideration for heart disease and stroke prevention and counseling, according to independent, new preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2026.

2 Nov 2026

Study links ultra-processed foods to poorer dietary quality

A higher proportion of ultra-processed food in the diet is generally associated with poorer dietary quality and, among adults, a somewhat higher prevalence of overweight and obesity.

2 Nov 2026

From simple ovulation treatments to IVF, how doctors choose the right approach

A clinical review on female infertility discusses causes, IVF options, and complications, equipping clinicians to improve patient care and treatment outcomes.

2 Nov 2026

Moving beyond weight loss to create truly inclusive healthcare environments

Have you ever gone to your GP to find out why you're always tired, only to be told to lose weight?

2 Nov 2026

Could GLP-1 drugs help women with PCOS beyond weight loss?

A scoping review of 28 studies suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists may improve androgen levels and menstrual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), alongside their established metabolic benefits. Evidence for improved ovulation, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes remains limited, and the researchers could not determine whether reproductive benefits result directly from the drugs or from weight loss and improved metabolic health.

1 Nov 2026

Children with intense mood swings face greater risk of emotional overeating in adolescence

Children with large mood swings are at greater risk for comfort eating in their teens.

30 Oct 2026

Insilico Medicine leader shares AI-driven drug discovery insights in Shanghai and Dubai

Dr. Jue Wang, Head of Global Business Development at Insilico Medicine, has been invited to attend the China Healthcare Summit in Shanghai. On the afternoon of November 3 at 16:45, she will deliver a keynote speech in the panel titled: "THE COMMODITIZATION TRAP: WHO WINS WHEN EVERYONE HAS THE SAME AI?"

30 Oct 2026

Major studies identify accurate non-invasive tests for liver disease

Two major international studies have delivered the strongest evidence to date on which non-invasive tests can accurately diagnose and measure the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its more severe form, MASH, reducing reliance on liver biopsy.

29 Oct 2026

Multivitamins boost key vitamin levels, but do they improve your health?

A scoping review of 157 clinical trial reports found that multivitamins consistently improved circulating levels of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, while other nutritional and clinical effects varied by formulation, population, and baseline nutritional status. Selected prenatal and cognitive outcomes improved in some trials, but evidence for cardiovascular disease prevention was largely negative, and the review could not establish the overall certainty of clinical benefits.

29 Oct 2026

Brief dietary changes may prime the immune system for inflammation

Scientists have long known that diet shapes the immune system. Now, a UC San Francisco team has found that even a brief dietary change can substantially change how the body responds to skin irritation, at least in mice.

29 Oct 2026

New framework guides safer obesity drug prescribing in older adults

Today, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) released a new framework to assist clinicians to safely prescribe obesity medications in older adults.

29 Oct 2026

Worried nuts will cause weight gain? A large review puts that concern in perspective

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials found that eating nuts modestly reduced body fat and improved cholesterol levels without significantly changing body weight. The review did not establish that nuts rich in monounsaturated fats offered greater body-composition benefits than those rich in polyunsaturated fats.

29 Oct 2026

Can broccoli sprouts help with insulin resistance? New review offers clues

A review published in the British Journal of Nutrition examines how carotenoids and bioactive compounds in Brassicaceae microgreens may influence obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes through metabolic and inflammatory pathways. Small human trials involving broccoli sprouts have reported improvements in selected metabolic markers, but larger, longer-term studies are needed to establish their clinical benefits.

29 Oct 2026

Circadian desynchronization: The hidden cost of daylight saving time transitions

Turning the clocks back an hour each fall can feel like a gift: an extra hour of sleep. But the tradeoff is less daylight in the evening, and the annual switch continues to earn mixed reviews.

29 Oct 2026

Limited app use adds a twist to a nurse-led dementia risk trial

A cluster-randomized trial involving 403 Australian adults aged 45–65 found that a 12-month nurse-led behavioral intervention supported by a mobile app modestly improved estimated dementia risk scores compared with brief counseling and usual care. The study found no significant improvements in cognitive performance or other secondary outcomes, leaving its long-term effects on dementia prevention uncertain.

28 Oct 2026

High-fat diets in mouse parents alter offspring brain development

Researchers fed breeding pairs of mice five diets with different fat and sugar contents to examine how parental nutrition affects offspring brain development. High-fat diets, alone or combined with high sugar, delayed early motor development and altered brain structure in young adult offspring, while the high-sugar-only diet produced no significant changes in individual brain regions after correction for multiple comparisons.

28 Oct 2026