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 Sexual Health

Obesity and Diabetes

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity in Adults

Obesity in Children

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity and Stress

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity Epidemiology

Obesity and Anesthesia

See more featured articles »

Obesity and Autism

Obesity and Skin Problems

Obesity and Depression

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

Obesity and Heart Disease

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Arthritis

Obesity and Fractures

Obesity and Infertility

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity, What Can be Done?

Dieting for Obese Children

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Sleep

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

Obesity and Cancer

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Obesity Management

Latest Obesity News and Research

The best meal timing for blood sugar may be earlier dinners

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9 Jun 2026

Fathers shape childhood obesity risk long before birth

New research highlights fathers' influence on childhood obesity risk through sperm changes, lifestyle, and parenting, urging inclusive prevention strategies.

9 Jun 2026

Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes gain momentum across the globe

One of the challenges public health officials face in reducing diet-related disease is the relatively easy and inexpensive access to sugar-sweetened beverages globally.

9 Jun 2026

GLP-1 users say the drugs quiet food noise but do not replace lifestyle change

A qualitative study of 30 US adults found that GLP-1 receptor agonists often reduced “food noise,” psychological hunger, and appetite, helping patients feel more able to make deliberate lifestyle changes.

8 Jun 2026

Expert review examines widely-held beliefs about dietary protein needs and benefits

A newly published peer-reviewed paper in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition synthesizes findings from a February 2025 scientific workshop.

8 Jun 2026

Weight loss drugs linked to lower risk of alcohol, opioid, nicotine and cocaine use disorders

A new study led by researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso found that use of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and other GLP-1s is associated with a lower risk of developing alcohol, opioid, nicotine and cocaine use disorders.

8 Jun 2026

Weight loss medications show promise in preventing obesity-related cancers

A study of more than 229,000 obese adults without diabetes in the United States has shown that weight loss drugs are associated with a decreased risk of obesity-related cancers.

7 Jun 2026

GLP-1 therapies linked to fewer complications in adults with both obesity and autoimmune disease

Among adults with both obesity and an autoimmune disease, those taking a glucagon-like peptide-receptor 1 agonist (GLP-1RA) medication had lower rates of emergency department visits and were less likely to experience serious cardiac events, such as stroke, pulmonary embolism or death when compared to similar adults who were not taking these medications, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

7 Jun 2026

How tobacco-style product design shaped a kids’ lunchbox staple

A historical case study shows how tobacco-style research, consumer testing, and product reformulation strategies helped shape and expand a child-focused ultra-processed meal brand. The paper argues that tobacco and ultra-processed food regulation should be studied together, as both sectors used similar product-design strategies to boost appeal and maintain consumer loyalty.

5 Jun 2026

Tobacco giants helped push ultra-processed foods into global markets

New research reveals how major tobacco companies used cigarette-era business tactics to expand packaged food empires, raising fresh questions about the global spread of ultra-processed and hyper-palatable foods.

4 Jun 2026

Fathers' health may shape children's future obesity ris

As obesity rates rise across the U.S., new research from Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health at the University of California, Irvine scientists draws attention to an often-overlooked factor in children's long-term health: fathers.

4 Jun 2026

Fast food is crowding out grocery access across the U.S.

A 20-year analysis of US neighborhood foodscapes found that food swamps became more common from 2003 to 2023, while food deserts showed little improvement. Rural communities and people relying on public transport faced the greatest barriers to reaching healthy food retailers.

4 Jun 2026

Current chronic kidney disease diagnostic thresholds reflect true patient risk

The thresholds for kidney function currently used to diagnose chronic kidney disease (CKD) reflect a true increase in the risk of serious illness.

4 Jun 2026

Why exercise matters for obesity even when the scale barely moves

AHA's scientific statement reveals exercise's vital role in obesity management, boosting cardiovascular health and supporting long-term weight loss efforts.

4 Jun 2026

Exercise during pregnancy links to lower infant BMI at one year

Supervised exercise during pregnancy may lower infant BMI and reduce obesity risk, highlighting the impact of maternal health on early growth trajectories.

4 Jun 2026

Real-world study exposes suboptimal adherence to treat-to-target rheumatic strategies

EULAR - The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology - acknowledges the role of diverse real-world data to complement knowledge from randomized controlled trials.

4 Jun 2026

Could GLP-1 drugs help prevent breast cancer? New study points to a possible link

A large retrospective cohort study of 111,646 overweight or obese women found that GLP-1 agonist exposure was associated with lower breast cancer incidence. After propensity-score matching, GLP-1 exposure was linked to nearly 30% lower odds of breast cancer, but the authors stress that randomized trials are needed before these drugs can be considered for prevention.

3 Jun 2026

Americans view ultraprocessed foods as addictive and harmful

Across partisan lines, Americans broadly believe ultraprocessed foods are addictive and harmful – expressing attitudes strikingly like those that spurred regulation of the tobacco industry, new Cornell University-led research finds.

3 Jun 2026

Continuing gout therapy during remission lowers future flare risk

The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology - held its 2026 annual Congress in London, where gout was high on the agenda.

3 Jun 2026

GLP-1 treatments may reduce knee replacement surgery rates

GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, used for the treatment of diabetes, and more recently, weight loss, are associated with a significantly lower long term risk of knee replacement surgery as a result of osteoarthritis, finds an analysis of medical records data, published in the open access journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

2 Jun 2026