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 Adults

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity in Children

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Anesthesia

Obesity, What Can be Done?

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Obesity Epidemiology

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

See more featured articles »

Obesity and Arthritis

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity and Fractures

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity Management

Obesity and Stress

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity and Depression

Obesity and Cancer

Obesity and Skin Problems

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity and Sexual Health

Dieting for Obese Children

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity in Pregnancy

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity and Autism

Obesity and Heart Disease

Obesity and Sleep

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

Latest Obesity News and Research

Prediabetes prevalence doubles over two decades in Finnish children with obesity

The prevalence of prediabetes has increased significantly in recent years among Finnish children living with overweight or obesity, a recent study by Tampere University and the University of Eastern Finland shows.

30 Dec 2025

Imaging-enhanced knowledge graphs reveal new targets for heart disease treatment

Knowledge graphs are a powerful tool for bringing together information from biological databases and linking what is already known about genes, diseases, treatments, molecular pathways and symptoms in a structured network.

30 Dec 2025

Rising gestational diabetes rates raise alarms for maternal and child health

Gestational diabetes rose every single year in the U.S. from 2016 through 2024, according to a new Northwestern Medicine analysis of more than 12 million U.S. births. The condition, which raises health risks for both mother and baby, shot up 36 % over the nine-year period (from 58 to 79 cases per 1,000 births) and increased across every racial and ethnic group.

30 Dec 2025

Researchers develop mild mitochondrial uncouplers for obesity treatment

Researchers have developed experimental drugs that encourage the mitochondria in our cells to work a little harder and burn more calories. The findings could open the door to new treatments for obesity and improve metabolic health.

24 Dec 2025

Discovery of fat-regulating enzyme points to a new obesity therapy

Obesity is a global epidemic and a major cause of morbidity and mortality because it increases the risk for comorbidities, including heart disease and fatty liver disease (MASLD).

23 Dec 2025

Paternal microplastic exposure alters metabolic health in offspring

A study led by biomedical scientists at the University of California, Riverside, has shown for the first time that a father's exposure to microplastics (MPs) can trigger metabolic dysfunctions in his offspring.

23 Dec 2025

How GLP‑1 Agonists Are Shaping the Future of Obesity Treatment With Dr Bryony Henderson

GLP-1 agonists are pivotal in obesity care, promoting weight loss and addressing related health issues, with a focus on personalized, holistic treatment.

23 Dec 2025

Blood metabolite profiling outperforms BMI in predicting pregnancy complications

This study shows that a blood-based metabolomic signature linked to maternal BMI predicts gestational diabetes and preeclampsia more strongly than BMI alone, particularly in late pregnancy. A subset of 16 metabolites statistically mediates the BMI–gestational diabetes association, highlighting metabolic pathways that may improve prenatal risk stratification.

21 Dec 2025

Simple fruit granola intervention shows promising cardio-renal signals in CKD patients

A single-arm intervention study in Japanese adults with moderate chronic kidney disease found that replacing breakfast with fruit granola for two months lowered systolic blood pressure, reduced LDL-related lipid markers, and decreased a urinary marker of tubular injury. Renal function remained stable, bowel habits improved, and findings were exploratory due to the small, open-label design.

21 Dec 2025

Genes influence the gut microbiome beyond the individual

The gut microbiome - made up of trillions of microbes in the digestive tract - is vital for digestion and overall health. Diet and medication shape these microbial ecosystems, but the contribution of genetics has been more difficult to ascertain.

19 Dec 2025

New CPRIT awards expand cancer prevention and treatment research in South Texas

UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), received nearly $3 million in new academic and prevention awards as part of the latest funding round announced by the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).

19 Dec 2025

Cutting carbs, not fat, may better control appetite in women

Research indicates low-carb diets may enhance appetite regulation and reduce food cues in women with lipedema, offering a dietary intervention advantage.

19 Dec 2025

Gestational diabetes alters the placenta at the molecular level, study reveals

Gestational diabetes can cause a multitude of complications in the offspring, but to date, the reasons are incompletely understood.

18 Dec 2025

Scientists unravel how citrin deficiency can trigger fat buildup in the liver even in lean individuals

Scientists at City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. and a leading research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses, have unraveled how citrin deficiency (CD), a rare genetic disorder that prevents the liver from converting food into energy efficiently, can trigger fat buildup in the liver - even in lean individuals.

18 Dec 2025

Addressing unsustainable food systems can deliver double benefits for health and climate

A major review in Frontiers in Science highlights how tackling unsustainable food systems-reflected by our changing food environment-is urgent for both health and climate.

18 Dec 2025

Couples-based programs boost heart-healthy behaviors

Research highlights the need for couple-based interventions in heart disease to focus on emotional support and relationship quality for better health outcomes.

18 Dec 2025

ECG-based AI model doubles early liver disease diagnoses

As rates of obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea increase, cases of advanced chronic liver disease and resulting liver scarring or cirrhosis also are rising. Patients often are diagnosed based on symptoms, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, fluid retention or jaundice, which happen when liver disease has progressed to a late stage.

17 Dec 2025

Intermittent fasting edges daily calorie cuts for blood pressure and long-term cardiovascular risk estimates

In a real-world registry study of adults with overweight or obesity, 5:2 intermittent fasting and daily calorie restriction both improved blood pressure over 12 weeks. Intermittent fasting produced modestly greater reductions in systolic and pulse pressure and a larger drop in BMI-based 30-year cardiovascular risk scores, without superior lipid or glycaemic effects.

17 Dec 2025

Specific gut bacterium reduces weight gain and improves metabolic health

The gut microbiome is intimately linked to human health and weight. Differences in the gut microbiome-the bacteria and fungi in the gut-are associated with obesity and weight gain, raising the possibility that changing the microbiome could improve health.

16 Dec 2025

Alcohol-related liver disease deaths surge with widening socioeconomic gaps

Researchers at Saint Louis University School of Medicine say deaths from alcohol-related liver disease have surged in recent years, and the increase is hitting people without a college degree the hardest.

16 Dec 2025