Obesity

Disease

Disease Profile

Obesity is a chronic complex disease characterized by excessive adiposity that increases risk for multiple noncommunicable diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers.

Category: metabolic disease
Prevalence: In 2022, about 1 in 8 people globally were living with obesity.

Related News

Multiple Studies Link Accelerated Biological Aging to Rising Early-Onset Cancer in Younger Generations

Jun 29, 2026

Two studies published in Nature Medicine and Military Medical Research link accelerated biological aging in younger generations to rising rates of early-onset cancers. Researchers found that people born in more recent decades show larger gaps between their chronological and biological ages, with stronger risks for lung, gastrointestinal, and uterine cancers. A separate global analysis identified six cancers now rising faster in younger adults than older populations.

AI Clinical Trial Companies Raise Combined $129.5M in Funding Rounds

Jun 20, 2026

Iterative Health closes $77M Series C to expand its multispecialty clinical research network, while Biorce secures $52.5M Series A for AI platform aimed at streamlining clinical trial design and execution.

AstraZeneca Advances Oral GLP-1 Drug and Defends Diabetes Patent in Australia

Jun 19, 2026

AstraZeneca is advancing its oral GLP-1 drug into Phase III trials while defending dapagliflozin patents in Australia. The company obtained an Australian court injunction against a generic competitor and has partnered with Evinova to use AI for clinical trials. India could be a future market for the oral GLP-1 drug pending global trial data.

Oncology Drug Market Sees Strong Growth Amid Patent Cliffs and Novel Modality Shifts

Jun 05, 2026

Global oncology drug spending is projected to reach $467 billion by 2030, driven by novel modalities like ADCs and bispecifics, but growth will slow due to patent expirations for key drugs like Keytruda and Lynparza. R&D is shifting, with novel modalities accounting for 33% of clinical trials in 2025. The industry is also seeing broader innovation and investment, with new blockbuster contenders emerging across multiple therapeutic areas.

GLP-1 RA drugs show cancer risk reduction but weight regain after cessation

Jun 03, 2026

GLP-1 receptor agonists combined with progestin therapy significantly reduce endometrial cancer risk in women with uterine hyperplasia, according to a JAMA Network Open study. A separate meta-analysis finds patients regain 60% of weight lost one year after stopping GLP-1 RAs, with weight regain plateauing at 75.3% of treatment loss.

NICE Updates Type 2 Diabetes Guidance for Earlier SGLT-2 Inhibitor Use; SGLT2 Inhibitors Also Linked to Survival Benefit in Takotsubo Syndrome

May 28, 2026

NICE updates type 2 diabetes guidance in England, recommending earlier use of SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists. Separately, a study finds SGLT2 inhibitors improve survival in Takotsubo syndrome patients.

Related Clinical Trials

NCT ID	Title	Status	Phase
NCT07614464	Effects of Obesity on Physical Abilities and Daily Living Activities in Elderly Adults	RECRUITING
NCT07611201	The Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Chemosensory Function and Ingestive Behavior	COMPLETED
NCT07610902	Periodontal Inflammation and Epigenetics in Obese Individuals	NOT_YET_RECRUITING	NA
NCT07609160	Effectiveness of Combined GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy and Structured Exercise on Skeletal Muscle Morphology, Quality, and Physical Function in Overweight and Obese Individuals	NOT_YET_RECRUITING	NA
NCT07607587	Evaluation of the Tolerability of Cagrilintide in Participants Not Tolerating GLP-1-RA Therapies Due to Gastrointestinal Adverse Events	NOT_YET_RECRUITING	PHASE1
NCT07605169	Long-term Health and Economic Effects of an Individualized Lifestyle Intervention (LI-PAD-Extended)	RECRUITING	NA
NCT07605052	A Research Study to Compare Blood Levels of Two Different Versions of Cagrilintide in Adults With Excess Body Weight	NOT_YET_RECRUITING	PHASE1
NCT07601555	Body Composition, Functional Capacity, and Respiratory Muscle Endurance in Obesity With Restrictive Ventilatory Pattern	NOT_YET_RECRUITING
NCT07601061	Simplifying Diet Tracking in a Digital Weight Loss Intervention	NOT_YET_RECRUITING	NA
NCT07600866	Validation of a Body-Composition Segmentation Software on a Diverse Public CT Scan Cohort	NOT_YET_RECRUITING