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Obesity: A complex health challenge requiring personalised care.1-2

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Obesity is a chronic disease caused by genetic, metabolic, behavioural, neurologic, and environmental factors. Obesity affects 1 in 8 globally.1,2,4

  

Explore the science behind obesity

  

Obesity affects more than weight.
It affects life.5

From heart disease to mental well-being, obesity can lead to over 200 serious complications.5


 

Learn about complications of obesity
Female doctor talking to patient

Women and Obesity: A Global Concern Affecting Over 500 Million14

From PCOS to menopause, many women face disorders and hormonal changes that impact weight and health.14-16


 

Understand the impact on women's health

Supporting patients with weight management

Personalised support can improve outcomes – and help counter the biology behind weight regain.17


 

See your options

Obesity resources for you and your patients

Discover practical tools, conversation guides, patient materials and international guidelines – all in one place to support better obesity care.



References
  1. World Obesity Federation. World obesity atlas 2024. Accessed July 2025. https://www.worldobesity.org/news/world-obesity-atlas-2024.
  2. Gadde KM, Martin CK, Berthoud HR, Heymsfield SB. Obesity: pathophysiology and management. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(1):69-84.
  3. World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight. Accessed July 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight.
  4. Busebee B, Ghusn W, Cifuentes L, Acosta A. Obesityn a review of pathophysiology and classification. JwIGrEC?>r<:G.8r2023698(12)n1842-1857.
  5. Yuen MM, Earle RL, Kadambi N, et al. T-P-3166: a systematic review and evaluation of current evidence reveals 236 obesity-associated disorders (ObAD). Poster abstract presentation at: Obesity Society Annual Meeting at ObesityWeek 2016; October 31-November 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA.
  6. GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators, Ashin A, Forouzanfar MH, et al. Health effects of overweight and obesity in 195 countries over 25 years. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(1):13-27.
  7. Younossi ZM, Golabi P, Paik JM, Henry A, Van Dongen C, Henry L. The global epidemiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): a systematic review. Hepatology. 2023;77(4):1335-1347.
  8. Behari J, Wang R, Luu HN, McKenzie D, Molinari M, Yuan J-M. Severe obesity is associated with worse outcomes than lean metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Hepatol Commun. 2024;8(7):e0471.
  9. Machado M, Marques-Vidal P, Cortez-Pinto H. Hepatic histology in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. J Hepatol. 2006;45(4):600-606.
  10. Quek B, Chan TE, Wong ZY, et al. Global prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in the overweight and obese population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;8(1):20-30.
  11. Rinella ME, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Siddiqui MS, et al. AASLD practice guidance on the clinical assessment and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2023;77(5):1797-1835.
  12. Tana C, Ballestri S, Ricci F, et al. Cardiovascular risk in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(17):3104.
  13. Lean MEJ, Leslie WS, Barnes AC, et al. Durability of a primary care-led weight-management intervention for remission of type 2 diabetes: 2-year results of the DiRECT open-label, cluster-randomised trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2019;7(5):344-355.
  14. World Obesity Federation. Prevalence of obesity. Accessed June 2025. https://www.worldobesity.org/about/about-obesity/prevalence-of-obesity#:~:text=That's%20why%20we%20consider%20it%20one%20of%20our%20policy%20priorities.&text=In%20adults%2C%20obesity%20rates%20nearly,living%20with%20obesity%20in%202022
  15. Moccia P, Belda-Montesinos R, Monllor-Tormos A, Chedreaui P, Cano A. Body weight and fat mass across the menopausal transition: hormonal modulators. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2022;38(2):99-104.
  16. Fauser BCJM, Tarlatzis BC, Rebar RW, et al. Consensus on women’s health aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): the Amsterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored 3rd PCOS Consensus Workshop Group. Fertil Steril. 2012;97(1):28-38.e25.
  17. Sumithran P, Prendergast LA, Delbridge E, et al. Long-term persistence of hormonal adaptations to weight loss. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(17):1597-1604.

Disclaimer: The images shown on this page are models and not real patients.

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