Obesity

If you overindulge in sugary treats, the good news is that your sweet tooth will be silenced. The bad news, though, is that this triggers a hormonal call out for fatty foods. And even worse news, too much fat will then switch sugar cravings back on.

A study has found a link between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and the risk of developing some cancers. However, they found that obesity, often caused by eating too much of these foods, was not a large contributing factor.

There is a growing body of evidence that points to night shift work being extremely bad for our health. But scientists believe some big, hairy "extreme shift workers" may hold the cellular secrets to staying healthy amid circadian rhythm disruptions.

While we try to not live in the past, our biology often has other ideas. Adding to a growing body of evidence, researchers have found that men who carried around extra pounds in their youth are at a much higher risk of developing 17 types of cancers.

A clinical trial has shown that the cardiovascular benefits that the drug semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, affords to overweight or obese type 2 diabetics extend to those without diabetes.

The US has officially got a homegrown hero in the burgeoning global industry of effective weight-loss treatment, with the FDA approval of Lilly’s Zepbound. The company has revealed its cost, dosages, insurance subsidies and when it will be on shelves.

A new study is pointing to a possible mechanism linking obesity with neurodegenerative disease. The work suggests diet-induced insulin resistance can impair the brain’s ability to clear out neuronal debris and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer’s.

A study has linked elevated blood insulin levels and pancreatic cancer. The researchers say their findings may lead to new cancer prevention strategies and targeting treatments to slow or prevent the progression of the cancer.

A new study has revealed how overeating affects a cat’s digestion and gut microbiome. The greater understanding provided by the study may help to prevent pet obesity and the health problems associated with it.

A phase 3 clinical trial of tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, has demonstrated that if taken after an initial weight loss brought about by diet and lifestyle changes, the drug can lead to significant additional weight reduction.

Researchers have mapped the nerve pathways that supply brown adipose tissue, or ‘brown fat’. It’s the first step in developing a way of stimulating the nerves to burn fat as a novel treatment for obesity and related metabolic conditions.

Finding the molecular key to turn fat tissue from white to brown has huge potential for weight loss, yet the cellular code has been a hard one to crack. Scientists are now one step closer, finding a way in to manipulate the tricky white fat cells.