Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Detecting diabetes risk by analyzing household data

New research to be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria (September 15-19, 2025) shows that early detection of individuals at risk for diabetes is possible by analyzing the electronic records of people living within the same household for risk factors. The study is led by Dr Tainayah Thomas, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA, and colleagues.

18 Aug 2025

Can turmeric/curcumin help with weight control in diabetes?

Curcumin/turmeric supplements modestly reduced body weight, waist size, fat mass, and hip circumference in people with type 2 diabetes. Benefits were also seen in prediabetic individuals, especially with longer use and high-absorption formulations.

18 Aug 2025

International experts recommend broader use of cardioprotective diabetes drugs

SGLT-2 inhibitor and GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs should be used in all or almost all adults with type 2 diabetes at higher risk of cardiovascular and kidney complications, and in the majority of adults at moderate risk of complications, say a panel of international experts in The BMJ today.

17 Aug 2025

GIPR signaling opens brain’s gate for GLP-1 weight-loss therapy

A Cell Metabolism study reveals that GIPR signaling in oligodendrocytes enhances brain access and weight-loss efficacy of GLP-1R agonists by increasing vascular permeability and targeting appetite-regulating neurons. This mechanism may explain why GIPR/GLP-1R co-agonists outperform single-agent therapies.

14 Aug 2025

Study finds vegetarians less likely to develop several common and rare cancers

A large North American cohort study found that vegetarian diets were linked to lower risks of several cancers, including colorectal, stomach, breast, prostate, and lymphoproliferative cancers. No evidence suggested that vegetarian eating increased cancer risk for any site.

14 Aug 2025

New 2025 guidelines focus on early intervention and lifestyle to manage high blood pressure

Preventing and managing high blood pressure with healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as following a heart-healthy diet including reducing salt intake, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress—combined with early treatment with medication to lower blood pressure if necessary—are recommended to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, cognitive decline and dementia, according to a new clinical guideline published today in the American Heart Association's peer-reviewed journals Circulation and Hypertension, and in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology.

14 Aug 2025

Diabetes drugs linked to higher risk of rare optic nerve damage

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14 Aug 2025

Colorectal cancer rates nearly triple among younger people in Sweden

According to a study by Karolinska Institutet, nearly three times as many people under the age of 50 in Sweden are diagnosed with colorectal cancer today compared with the early 1990s.

14 Aug 2025

Genicular artery embolization relieves chronic knee pain caused by osteoarthritis

A procedure performed under mild sedation in less than two hours by an interventional radiologist relieves chronic knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, an NYU Langone Health study shows.

14 Aug 2025

PFAS exposure increases risk of weight regain after adolescent bariatric surgery

Adolescents who undergo bariatric surgery face a higher risk of weight regain, which can undermine treatment success and long-term health, if they have elevated blood levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) prior to the procedure, according to new USC research.

14 Aug 2025

Study investigates aging-related mechanisms in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis using AI approaches

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive lung disease characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components, leading to a gradual decline in lung function and, ultimately, respiratory failure.

13 Aug 2025

Conch shell blowing lowers apnea events during REM sleep

Shankh blowing shows promise in alleviating sleep apnea, with significant improvements in sleep quality and reductions in daytime sleepiness after six months.

13 Aug 2025

New research explores foot positioning to treat knee osteoarthritis

Gait analysis and pain measures show that subtly adjusting the angle of the foot during walking may reduce knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. This approach may also slow progression of the condition, an uncurable disease in which the cartilage cushion inside a joint breaks down.

13 Aug 2025

Study supports pre-surgery use of GLP-1 RAs for weight reduction

Overweight patients waiting for operations could safely use a particular type of weight-loss treatment to reduce the risk of surgical complications linked to their obesity, a new study reveals.

12 Aug 2025

New engineered molecule shows promise as rapid antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers, along with their colleagues, engineered a new molecule that appears promising as an effective antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning with fewer side effects than other molecules currently being tested, according to a new study published in the journal PNAS.

12 Aug 2025

New research highlights combined impact of genes and lifestyle on dilated cardiomyopathy

An international team, led by scientists from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute has studied around 3000 people affected by the heart disease dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) – a driver of heart failure and sudden cardiac arrest.

12 Aug 2025

New Canadian guideline highlights expanded role of obesity medications

"Pharmacotherapy can help people living with obesity improve overall health, not just lose weight," says Dr. Sue D. Pedersen, MD, endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist in Calgary, and lead author of this guideline. "The goal of obesity medications is to improve metabolic, mechanical, and/or mental health, and improve quality of life, incorporating treatment goals that are important to each individual patient."

11 Aug 2025

Cutting HFSS ultra-processed foods may save lives, says AHA report

The American Heart Association’s new science advisory links high consumption of ultra-processed foods to increased cardiometabolic risks and mortality, urging targeted reduction of HFSS UPFs. The report also calls for policy reforms, equity-focused strategies, and further research into mechanisms beyond nutrient content.

11 Aug 2025

Brain’s energy control map offers blueprint for next-gen weight loss therapies

Scientists map how the brain integrates hormonal and neural signals from the body to control appetite, energy use, and reward pathways, revealing targets for next-generation anti-obesity drugs. This review highlights the interplay between neuroendocrine circuits, neuroplasticity, and pharmacotherapy for durable, non-aversive weight loss.

11 Aug 2025