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.

Causes of Obesity and Overweight

Obesity, What Can be Done?

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity Management

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and Cancer

Obesity and Depression

Obesity and Autism

See more featured articles »

Obesity and Sleep

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity in Adults

Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity and Sexual Health

Obesity and Stress

Obesity and Fractures

Obesity and Arthritis

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity Epidemiology

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity in Children

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

Obesity and Heart Disease

Obesity and Anesthesia

Obesity and Skin Problems

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Dieting for Obese Children

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

Latest Obesity News and Research

Consumers view plant-based meats as healthier, but are they ready to swap steaks for seitan?

Study explores the perception of meat alternatives as healthier options, revealing consumers often misjudge their nutritional value, especially protein content. This underlines the need for clear and honest nutritional information.

8 Jun 2023

Gut health boost: Functional foods and herbs show promise in tackling SARS-CoV-2 variants

Functional foods and natural herbs have the potential to enhance immune function and maintain gut microbiota diversity. This review explores their role in mitigating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on gut health and overall well-being.

8 Jun 2023

DNA study sheds light on how we maintain healthy blood sugar levels after meals

A study of the DNA of more than 55,000 people worldwide has shed light on how we maintain healthy blood sugar levels after we have eaten, with implications for our understanding of how the process goes wrong in type 2 diabetes.

8 Jun 2023

“List diving” contributes to disparities in organ transplantation

A kidney from a deceased donor is supposed to be allocated to the top-ranked patient on a transplant center's waiting list, identified using an objective algorithm to rank patients based on patient age, waiting time, and other factors.

8 Jun 2023

Insomnia raises the risk of influenza and other respiratory infections

A study based on more than 600 000 participants suggests that insomnia increases the risk of influenza and other respiratory infections.

8 Jun 2023

New scientific statement details treatment strategies for pediatric cardiomyopathy

Treating children with cardiomyopathy should be personalized based on the root cause, symptoms and progression of the condition in each child , according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Association's flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.

8 Jun 2023

Breastfeeding found to reduce ultra-processed food intake among preschoolers

Researchers determined the association between the duration of breastfeeding and the intake of ultra-processed food.

8 Jun 2023

Shifting towards precision medicine for type 2 diabetes dietary management

Researchers reviewed existing data on the genetic factors and the gene-diet interactions that could alter dietary management of type 2 diabetes.

8 Jun 2023

Study compares long-term consequences of COVID-19 between patients with rheumatic inflammatory diseases and healthy controls

Researchers used data from a long-term ongoing prospective cohort study in the Netherlands to compare the characteristics of long-COVID in inflammatory rheumatic diseases patients and healthy controls during the period when the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants, BA.1/BA.2 were dominant.

8 Jun 2023

New process can help to design drugs with fewer or no side effects

Have you ever wondered how drugs reach their targets and achieve their function within our bodies? If a drug molecule or a ligand is a message, an inbox is typically a receptor in the cell membrane.

7 Jun 2023

Study shows heterogeneity in children's snack purchase behavior

Would third- and fourth-graders buy fewer unhealthy snacks if they were more expensive? The answer provided by researchers at the University of Bonn is nuanced: Some elementary school students do actually pay attention to the price.

7 Jun 2023

Diabetes drug reduces alcohol drinking by more than half in rats

The medication semaglutide, which is currently used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, might also be an effective medication for alcohol dependence.

7 Jun 2023

Exposure to PFAS during pregnancy linked to increased risk of obesity in children

The risks of exposure to "forever chemicals" start even before birth, a new study confirms, potentially setting up children for future health issues.

7 Jun 2023

Study: One in three people with Type 2 diabetes in Austria suddenly stop treatment

A research team led by the Complexity Science Hub Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna has analyzed the actual prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Austria for the first time as part of a study.

7 Jun 2023

Most adults with diabetes do not receive prompt outpatient care after heart failure hospitalization

More than half of Medicaid-covered adults in Alabama with Type 2 diabetes did not receive follow-up health care within the recommended two-week period following hospitalization for newly-diagnosed heart failure, according to new research.

7 Jun 2023

Oral semaglutide outperforms other medications in type 2 diabetes treatment, significantly reducing HbA1c and body weight

Orally administered semaglutide shows significant efficacy in reducing HbA1c and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to other treatments. The study includes a large number of participants from multiple trials.

7 Jun 2023

Leucine deficient diet has antidepressant effects on chronic restraint stress-induced depression-like behaviors

Depression is a leading cause of disability around the world and contributes greatly to the global burden of disease.

6 Jun 2023

Study: Family and loved ones may be conspiring to sabotage your weight loss journey

Family and loved ones may be conspiring to sabotage your weight loss journey, according to a new study from the University of Surrey.

6 Jun 2023

HUG inaugurates a psychiatric care center for children and young adults

The Geneva University Hospital (HUG) have today inaugurated the Maison de l’enfance et de l’adolescence (MEA), a psychiatric care center for children and young adults up to the age of 18 and for medical care of adolescents and young adults up to the age of 25.

6 Jun 2023

Trends in the prevalence of individual health risk factors: how has the mortality risk changed over time?

Researchers explored the prevalence of health risk factors and their correlation with all-cause mortality.

6 Jun 2023

Obesity

Overview

Feature Articles

Obesity and Fast Food

Obesity and Exercise

Obesity Management

Obesity and Blood Pressure

Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and Cancer

Obesity and Depression

Obesity and Autism

Obesity and Sleep

Obesity and Hormones

Obesity and Genetics

Obesity in Adults

Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity and Infertility

Obesity and Sexual Health

Obesity and Stress

Obesity and Fractures

Obesity and Arthritis

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity Epidemiology

What is Obesity Paradox?

Obesity and Periodontitis

Obesity in Children

Obesity and Respiratory Disorders

Obesity and Heart Disease

Obesity and Anesthesia

Obesity and Skin Problems

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene (FTO)

What does Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

Dieting for Obese Children

Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome

Why is Visceral Fat Dangerous?

Latest Obesity News and Research

Exploring the intersection of biology and proteomics

Unlocking the Secrets of Multiple Sclerosis Progression: Brain-Immune Cell Communication

Passing on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Health risks for male offspring of women with PCOS

Newsletters you may be interested in