Weight Loss & Obesity News & Features

July 31, 2025 — As new research spotlights the obesity-cancer connection, experts warn we’ve underestimated just how much excess weight – and the complex biology behind it – can fuel the disease.

It’s well known that too much screen time may be bad for you. But there is also a strong connection between too much screen time and your metabolism. For adults and children, even small amounts of extra time spent in front of screens can cause weight gain and worsen your health.

July 29, 2025 — More and more doctors and scientists say BMI alone won’t tell you much about health, yet it remains the standard assessment for diagnosing obesity. Here’s why.

Weight loss drugs such as Ozempic are hugely popular, but that doesn’t mean they’re accessible. Cost, availability, and socioeconomic disparities mean that people who need them the most may not have access.

Unexpected body image issues and negative feelings may arise after significant weight loss.

July 17, 2025 — Modern weight loss medications represent a breakthrough, but they are most effective when combined with the right lifestyle strategies. Here's what that looks like.

A family doctor and obesity specialist talks about strange side effects that can result from weight loss and what you can do about them.

Now that the FDA shortage rules have expired, what’s next for people taking compound GLP-1s? Find out what you can do.

May 12, 2025 — In the first head-to-head trial of its kind, people with obesity who took tirzepatide (sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound) lost more weight and inches from their waist than those who took semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy).

April 14, 2025 — The FDA and the maker of the popular diabetes and weight loss drug Ozempic are warning people not to use counterfeit semaglutide 1.0 milligrams — the Ozempic injection — found in the U.S. drug supply chain.

March 26, 2025 — A new study suggests that restoring the pleasure of eating – not suppressing it – may help people eat more intentionally and avoid falling into patterns, offering a possible new way to treat obesity.

March 13, 2025 — A new study says that married men may have triple the risk of obesity, compared to unmarried men, and that marriage seems to increase the likelihood of being overweight in both sexes – by 62% in men and 39% in women.

Are you destined to be obese just because it runs in your family?

In this webinar, Amanda Velazquez, MD, explained why obesity is a chronic disease and what goes into losing weight without gaining it back.

If you’re looking to lose weight for health benefits, you may not need as much weight loss as you think. Read about the benefits of modest weight loss.

On World Obesity Day, experts call for an end to weight bias and stigma and a shift in how we talk about larger bodies and obesity treatment.

Medical students spend, on average, just 10 hours on obesity education, according to recent research.

February 12, 2025 — People with type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1 medicines may experience potentially blinding eye conditions as soon as the day after starting the drugs, and eye doctors are now asking their patients to be vigilant in speaking up about any vision changes while taking them.

February 7, 2025 — People living in areas where obesity is more common may experience less stigma, which could help reduce some of the social and health consequences of being overweight.

January 17, 2025 — Medicare will negotiate the prices of weight loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic with drug companies, a move that could create big savings for seniors who take the drugs, the Biden administration announced Friday.

December 5, 2024 — Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs have surged in popularity, dominating U.S. medication spending in 2023 for their effectiveness in managing diabetes and promoting weight loss. As demand grows, promising new drugs like tirzepatide and retatrutide—offering even greater weight-loss potential—could become the “next Ozempic,” though high costs, side effects, and limited access remain significant challenges.

December 4, 2024 — People taking the weight loss drug Zepbound experienced dramatically greater weight loss than competitor Wegovy in the first head-to-head trial.

December 2, 2024 — Taking weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound can help people cut back on what they eat and also on what they drink – including alcohol.

November 26, 2024 — In its announcement, the Biden administration called anti-obesity medicines “life-saving drugs,” noting that they can also prevent diabetes.

November 19, 2024 — The critical key to weight loss success? Sustainability. No single diet or plan works for everybody, but a secret formula does exist – and it’s unique to you.

November 19, 2024 — More than half of U.S. adults now qualify to take semaglutide, the popular diabetes and weight loss drug sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy.

November 12, 2024 — As the FDA issues a new warning about aspiration across all GLP-1 weight loss drugs, doctor groups are giving new recommendations.

November 6, 2024 — Labels for drugs like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Saxenda now warn against aspiration risk during surgery.

See quick ways to make planks, squats, bridges, push-ups, jumping jacks, and ab exercises easier to do if you have obesity.

October 31, 2024 — A new study suggests that weekly self-injections of the weight loss drug semaglutide could reduce knee pain from moderate osteoarthritis by nearly 50%.

Compounding pharmacies can make versions of semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound). Here’s what to look out for.

September 24, 2024 — A new CDC report says severe obesity is becoming more common in the U.S. Nearly 1 in 10 adults have severe obesity, and women are more likely than men to have the health condition. Yet from 2013 to 2023, the overall obesity rate held relatively steady around 40%.

September 16, 2024 — The move to self-administration with a syringe and needle, just like how insulin is often taken for diabetes, means a whole new set of people will be learning the sometimes-intimidating skill.

September 13, 2024 — Obesity remains a significant health issue in the United States, even as weight loss drugs are getting more popular, according to new data from the CDC.

September 5, 2024 — Microplastics, found in food, beauty products, and in the air, may add to weight gain by mimicking hormones like cortisol, which can disrupt metabolism and increase obesity risk.

August 27, 2024 — The maker of the weight loss drug Zepbound is offering the drug at a reduced price for people willing to buy it directly from the company in vials, rather than auto-injector pens.

August 20, 2024 — The weight loss and diabetes drug tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Zepbound, was highly effective at reducing the risk of progressing from prediabetes to the more serious condition of type 2 diabetes, according to an early look at study results released Tuesday by drugmaker Eli Lilly.

Social media is packed with claims of finding “nature’s Ozempic.” How legitimate are these claims? Get the facts about how food, fiber, “oatzempic,” supplements, and exercise affect GLP-1.

Drugs like Ozempic appear to have off-label benefits, including better heart and kidney health. They may also help fight addiction. Research is ongoing and equal access is a problem.

Many people with obesity struggle repeatedly to lose weight. Even those who succeed for a time often gain it back. So how do you get back on track?

August 7, 2024 — There are various options for managing weight after achieving weight loss goals with drugs. Maintaining lifestyle changes alongside medication adjustments is crucial for sustaining weight loss success.

It’s important to do what you can to maintain your muscle mass and strength as you age, even if you have weight loss goals.

August 6, 2024 — Compounded semaglutide is flooding the internet, and consumers are drowning in dosing errors. But problems also exist with the brand-name versions of the drugs.

August 5, 2024 — Researchers who bought the weight loss drug semaglutide online without a prescription were scammed or sent potentially toxic liquids that did not contain the labeled amount of the drug.

GLP-1s are “a major leap forward” in treating obesity, but they’re not magic bullets, says James Hill, PhD.

July 30, 2024 — Drugs for diabetes and weight loss like Ozempic and Wegovy show promise in helping people quit smoking, offering a surprising extra benefit for users.

July 23, 2024 — GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic were intended to treat diabetes, but their weight loss-inducing effects swiftly caught the nation’s attention. Over the past decade, the proportion of people using them for weight loss has doubled, while the proportion of people taking GLP-1s to treat diabetes is declining.

July 23, 2024 — Ozempic is already sometimes difficult to find. Now those who are using to drop a few pounds are making it harder for those who need it.

Is there an “obesity gene”? In most cases, there isn’t one single gene causing obesity. But genetics are a possible influence. Get the facts.