Overweight & Obesity

Research carried out on mice has revealed how a hormone released by the intestine acts on the brain and helps regulate the body’s energy expenditure. FGF19 (fibroblast growth factor 19) activates mechanisms that stimulate the use of more energy, burn fat, and favor weight control and blood glucose levels in obese animals.

A survey of adults living with obesity and their physicians across seven countries reveals a high disconnect between their perceptions about the causes of obesity and treatment goals. The findings being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO25) in Malaga, Spain (11–14 May), highlight biased misconceptions about obesity which may impact patients’ access to treatment and support.

A new study led by York University, looking at the health data of nearly 15,000 people enrolled in a medically supervised weight-loss program, has found disparities among ethnic and sub-ethnic groups in how much weight they lost.

Children who are living with severe obesity are more likely to experience a clinically relevant change in BMI when GLP-1 agonist drugs form part of their treatment, new research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) suggests.

The UK government is considering expanding its sugar tax on fizzy drinks to include milkshakes and other sweetened beverages, as part of new proposals announced in April 2025. The Treasury confirmed it plans to move forward not only with broadening the tax but also with lowering the sugar threshold that triggers it from 5g to 4g of sugar per 100ml.

Intermittent fasting is not only a useful tool for weight loss, it’s also shown to have many benefits for metabolic health—independent of weight loss. Yet many people may find intermittent fasting to be a challenge, especially if following the 5:2 version of the diet where calories are severely restricted two days a week.

A new study has found that over 1 in 5 boys and men in Canada and the United States may meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder, highlighting the urgent need for greater awareness, tailored prevention efforts, and inclusive clinical support for this under-recognized group.

Johns Hopkins University researchers have found that nearly all adults identified as having obesity based on body mass index (BMI) also had confirmed excess adiposity.

Obesity is a global health concern closely linked to a range of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. A research team from the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), identified the mitochondria protein Chchd10 as a novel regulator of adipose tissue homeostasis, offering new insights into the management of obesity and its related metabolic disorders. The findings were published in Advanced Science.

Body mass index (BMI) was almost three times more likely to classify children as overweight as a waist circumference-to-height ratio, according to a new study.