Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Who really decides what Australians eat? New study reveals financial sector’s hidden power

A new study explores how financial and non-financial actors shape food system investments in Australia, revealing who holds the power to promote—or prevent—healthier food environments. It introduces “profit-plus investing” as a potential tool for aligning finance with public health.

13 Apr 2025

What really causes keto flu, and how can you prevent it?

A scoping review from the University of Bergen identifies a wide range of transient symptoms—collectively known as "keto flu"—that occur during the initiation of a ketogenic diet. The review explores their physiological basis and highlights strategies, such as MCTs and electrolyte supplementation, to ease the transition.

13 Apr 2025

Kids don’t learn to cook just by watching parents, study shows

Children do not appear to develop cooking skills merely by observing their parents’ food skills, even when those skills are high. Instead, early active involvement in meal preparation may be key to building lasting cooking abilities.

13 Apr 2025

Adolescent obesity in England rises by 50% over 15 years

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025, Malaga, Spain, 11-14 May) shows that the proportion of adolescents living with overweight or obesity in England has increased by 50% from 2008-2010 (22%) to 2021-2023 (33%).

12 Apr 2025

SURMOUNT-1 trial finds tirzepatide supports long term weight control

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025, Malaga, Spain, 11-14 May) shows that around two thirds of participants of the SURMOUNT-1 trial had only regained 5% or less of their so-called nadir (or lowest weight) three years after beginning treatment with tirzepatide.

11 Apr 2025

COVID-19 treatments show minimal serious side effects

Numerous treatment options for COVID-19 have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the last four years, including antiviral drugs and monoclonal antibodies that suppress an excessive immune response.

11 Apr 2025

GLP-1 agonists may reshape the gut microbiome

Research reveals GLP-1 receptor agonists influence gut microbiome, enhancing metabolic health and offering anti-inflammatory benefits for diabetes management.

11 Apr 2025

ChatGPT improves exercise for neurodivergent kids

A University of Michigan research team has used AI to help deliver exercise "snacks" to kids with autism.

11 Apr 2025

Researchers uncover why fat gain happens fast during life changes

Perspective article proposes that major fat gains arise from short-term lifestyle disruptions rather than gradual daily surpluses. The authors call for public health strategies to focus on preventing episodic weight spikes during high-risk life events.

10 Apr 2025

Study reveals how the brain balances hormones and metabolism during lactation

Nursing poses major metabolic demands on mothers, to which they respond by eating more and saving energy to sustain milk production.

10 Apr 2025

England faces persistent rise in alcohol deaths

The persistent higher rate of alcohol deaths in England since the pandemic in 2020 is an "acute crisis" requiring urgent action from government, according to a new study led by researchers at UCL and the University of Sheffield.

10 Apr 2025

New data-sparse model accurately predicts individual glycemic responses

If you eat a snack - a meatball, say, or a marshmallow - how will it affect your blood sugar? It's a surprisingly tricky question: the body's glycemic response to different foods varies based on individual genetics, microbiomes, hormonal fluctuations, and more.

10 Apr 2025

Can psychedelics break compulsive eating habits in obesity?

A review by Oxford researchers explores how psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD may help disrupt compulsive eating behaviors in subsets of obese individuals. The paper outlines proposed neurobiological, epigenetic, and gut-brain mechanisms while emphasizing the need for human trials.

10 Apr 2025

Six early life factors found to influence obesity risk in South Asian children

Researchers at McMaster University have identified six key factors in the first three years of life that influence the trajectory of obesity in South Asian children.

10 Apr 2025

AI-driven personalized nutrition shows promise in improving gut health

Researchers examine the impact of AI-based personalized nutrition programs on the gut microbiome of healthy individuals.

10 Apr 2025

US study reveals employer willingness to cover anti-obesity meds despite cost concerns

A new study aimed at understanding perceptions of obesity management and the use of anti-obesity medicine by employers and employees in the US has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Population Health Management.

10 Apr 2025

India, China, and the US will drive global diabetes burden by 2050, study finds

Global diabetes deaths and disability are rising, particularly in India, China, and the US, with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) driving the trend. Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) burdens are declining, but inequalities are widening, and projections show a steep rise in T2DM by 2050.

9 Apr 2025

Largest study of osteoarthritis genetics uncovers new drug targets

Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability and chronic pain worldwide, affecting an estimated 595 million people globally.

9 Apr 2025

Study shows minimal lean muscle mass loss with GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP therapy for weight loss

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025, Malaga, Spain, 11-14 May) shows that patients using GLP-1 or combined GLP-1 / GIP receptor agonist therapy for weight loss experienced minimal lean muscle mass loss as they lost weight across 6 months of treatment.

9 Apr 2025

Eating ultra-processed foods may rewire your brain’s hunger and reward circuits

High intake of ultra-processed foods is linked to adverse metabolic health and microstructural brain changes in regions that control appetite and reward. These effects occur both through obesity-related pathways and independently via inflammation and dyslipidemia.

9 Apr 2025