Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Semaglutide shows sustained weight loss benefits in older adults

A new analysis of the STEP trails carried out by semaglutide manufacturer Novo Nordisk has analysed various trials to show the safety and efficacy of the obesity drug semaglutide in older adults (over 65 years), and found similar efficacy and safety as in the general trial populations .

11 May 2026

Eating out regularly linked to higher obesity risk worldwide

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 May) suggests that no matter where people live, eating out instead of preparing meals at home is linked to weight gain and obesity.

11 May 2026

Daily orforglipron treatment reduces weight and blood sugar in seniors

A new analysis to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 May) examined daily oral orforglipron treatment for the treatment of obesity, with or without diabetes, in users aged 65 years and over, with results and a safety profile similar to that seen in the ATTAIN clinical trial programme population.

11 May 2026

Heart disease risk increases in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Heart disease risk has been found to increase in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), even in those with normal weight, according to research presented at the 28th European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague.

10 May 2026

Greater weight loss from GLP-1 drugs lowers health complication risk

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 May) shows that, following treatment for obesity or diabetes or both using incretin-based drugs, losing more weight versus less weight, and losing a little weight versus gaining weight, both lead to relatively lower risk of obesity-related conditions.

10 May 2026

Children frequently pressure parents to buy unhealthy foods during shopping

A study using a nationally representative survey of parents in England, to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 May), reveals that over half (58%) of parents are frequently pestered by their children or teens to purchase products high in fats, salts and/or sugar (HFSS) when food shopping in stores or online, and almost three-quarters (72%) reported often buying the requested item.

10 May 2026

Walking 8,500 steps daily may help prevent weight regain

New research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026) in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May) and published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health shows that doing around 8,500 steps a day can help people keep weight off after dieting.

10 May 2026

Tumors exploit peripheral nerves to support cancer growth and spread

Tumors do not communicate only with immune cells, blood vessels, and stromal tissue. A growing body of evidence suggests that cancer can also co-opt the nervous system, reshaping the tumor microenvironment in ways that support growth, invasion, immune escape, and therapeutic resistance.

10 May 2026

Asthma medication formoterol shows promise for treating fatty liver disease

MUSC researchers are tackling MASH, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, a liver disease affecting hundreds of millions worldwide.

8 May 2026

Tiny cellular structure found crucial for brain development processes

A largely overlooked structure inside our cells may play a crucial role in how the brain forms, offering new insight into developmental disorders and potential therapies.

8 May 2026

Insulin-dependent diabetes linked to sharply higher dementia risk

Individuals with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing dementia but those with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes and type 1 diabetes have the greatest risk, according to research presented at the 28th European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague.

8 May 2026

UK media portrays Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes stigma differently

Media framing often differs between diabetes types, with implications for misconceptions, blame, and diabetes-related stigma.

8 May 2026

Time-restricted eating helps with adherence in diabetes patients

Time-restricted eating shows promise for type 2 diabetes management, with family support and simple rules aiding adherence and metabolic health improvements.

8 May 2026

UK restaurant chains miss most government sugar and salt targets

A study reveals low adherence to UK nutrition targets in major restaurant chains, raising concerns about dietary risks for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

8 May 2026

People judge GLP-1 users more harshly than dieters

Stigma surrounding GLP-1 weight loss treatments reveals societal biases, impacting individuals' mental health and the effectiveness of obesity interventions.

7 May 2026

Nature-based group activities benefit older adults living in care homes

Nature-based group activities can reduce loneliness, improve sleep and cognition, and increase a sense of connection to nature in older adults living in care homes.

7 May 2026

The role of gut bacteria in sustained diabetes improvement

Changes in gut microbiota after bariatric surgery are strongly linked to altered metabolic health and sustained improvement in type 2 diabetes, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Gothenburg.

7 May 2026

Birth weight predicts kidney function during endurance exercise

Researchers investigate how birth weight determines kidney function changes following prolonged physical activity in different environmental conditions.

7 May 2026

Ultra processed foods linked to higher cardiovascular disease and death

People who eat more ultra processed food (UPF) have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death, according to a report published in the European Heart Journal today (Thursday).

7 May 2026

Bariatric surgery offers greater long-term health protection for seniors than GLP-1 drugs

Metabolic and bariatric surgery offers significantly greater long-term protection against heart attack, stroke and death than widely-used GLP-1 drugs in older adults with obesity and diabetes, according to new real-world analysis study presented today at the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

6 May 2026