Obesity News and Research

Latest Obesity News and Research

Fatty acids found to be a primary driver of triple-negative tumor growth

A team from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) has found that triple-negative breast cancer is fueled by lipids and that these fatty acids are a key feature of obesity that promote tumor growth.

16 Oct 2025

Does eating watermelon lower blood pressure?

Researchers reviewed the role of watermelon as a natural source of L-citrulline and its potential to improve cardiovascular health by enhancing nitric oxide production. While promising effects on blood pressure and arterial stiffness were seen in at-risk groups, long-term and dose-specific studies are still needed to confirm clinical benefits.

15 Oct 2025

SGLT-2 inhibitors offer protection against autoimmune conditions

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors used to treat type 2 diabetes are associated with an 11% lower risk of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, compared with another group of diabetes drugs called sulfonylureas, finds a study from South Korea published by The BMJ today.

15 Oct 2025

What happens when microplastics reach the testes? Study shows autophagy and cell loss

Researchers found that microplastics from everyday plastic tableware accumulate in human semen and, although not linked to semen quality in the full cohort, were associated with altered sperm parameters in specific subgroups. Experimental models confirmed that 50 nm polystyrene particles trigger autophagy and apoptosis via the FOXA1/MAP3K1/p38 pathway, impairing sperm structure and function.

15 Oct 2025

Building muscle shown to protect against obesity-related organ damage

People with excess body fat who build and keep muscle may be less likely to develop obesity-induced heart, liver, or kidney damage or die early, according to a new study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

15 Oct 2025

Study links gut dysbiosis with severe steatosis in MASLD

A new study in eGastroenterology links gut dysbiosis with severe steatosis in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

15 Oct 2025

GLP-1 medications found to slow alcohol absorption and lessen intoxication

There's mounting evidence that popular drugs prescribed for diabetes management and weight loss - better known by trade names like Ozempic and Wegovy - could be effective in reducing alcohol use.

15 Oct 2025

In Mississippi, Medicaid coverage of weight loss drugs fails to catch on

April Hines has battled with her weight since she was a teenager. But in the past couple of years, she's fallen from 600 pounds to 385, and her blood pressure and blood sugar levels are down, too. "I'm not as fatigued as I used to be, and I've been able to go back to church," she said.

15 Oct 2025

Voter health trends reveal strong backing for Reform UK

Poorer health is linked to a higher proportion of votes for the populist right wing political party, Reform UK, indicates an analysis of the 2024 general election voting patterns in England, published online in the open access journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research.

14 Oct 2025

Study highlights healthcare costs linked to both underweight and obesity in children

The NHS incurs an estimated £340 million in additional healthcare costs annually due to weight-related health problems in children – but it is not just obesity driving the costs.

14 Oct 2025

Genetic study reveals links between cannabis use and mental health

University of California San Diego of Medicine researchers, in collaboration with the genetic testing company 23andMe, have identified regions of the human genome associated with cannabis use, uncovering new relationships with psychiatric, cognitive and physical health.

13 Oct 2025

Skipping breakfast raises metabolic syndrome risk

Research shows that skipping breakfast increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, emphasizing the need for a nutritious morning meal to support long-term health.

13 Oct 2025

Global health study warns of rising youth deaths amid declining overall mortality

Global mortality rates are falling but not among youths and young adults, according to the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study published in The Lancet today and presented at the World Health Summit in Berlin.

13 Oct 2025

Study reveals distinct links between depression subtypes and metabolic diseases

It is known that depression is linked to increased incidence of metabolic diseases; now scientists have discovered that different types of depression are linked to different cardiometabolic diseases. This work is presented at the ECNP Congress in Amsterdam.

12 Oct 2025

Social media food shows like Mukbang are changing how people eat

The rise of digital food shows is reshaping eating behaviors in Korea, with significant effects on dining out and late-night eating in single-person households.

10 Oct 2025

Drinking soft drinks may fuel depression by altering gut bacteria

A study links soft drink consumption to increased depression risk, highlighting gut microbiome changes, particularly in women. Learn more about the findings.

10 Oct 2025

GLP-1 therapeutics may have the potential to treat alcohol and drug addiction

A popular class of therapies for treating diabetes and obesity may also have the potential to treat alcohol and drug addiction, according to a new paper published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

9 Oct 2025

Air pollution plays a significant role in the development of metabolic disorders

Long-term exposure to fine air pollution can impair metabolic health by disrupting the normal function of brown fat in mice. A study co-led by the University of Zurich shows that this occurs through complex changes in gene regulation driven by epigenetic mechanisms.

9 Oct 2025

Obesity-linked fat vesicles accelerate amyloid aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers discuss the role of extracellular vesicles as a potential link between obesity and Alzheimer’s disease.

9 Oct 2025

Working fewer hours may raise depression risk for older adults

The study links part-time work in older adults to higher depression rates, suggesting that less work doesn't always equate to better mental health outcomes.

9 Oct 2025