Obesity Facts最新文献

{"title":"GLP-1RA based treatment in patients with a PCSK1 mutation has profound effects on body weight - two case reports.","authors":"Trine Poder Sørensen, Steen Bønløkke Pedersen, Jens Meldgaard Bruun, Sigrid Bjerge Gribsholt","doi":"10.1159/ofa/adzag012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/ofa/adzag012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Monogenetic obesity involving the POMC and MC4R pathway often result in severe obesity, Case presentation: Two sisters, both in their thirties, with a loss-of-function PCSK1 muta-tion and living with class III obesity (BMI's 42 kg/m2 and 46 kg/m2, respectively) was referred for obesity treatment. None of the women had obesity-related diseases; however, due to severe obesi-ty they were treated with semaglutide and tirzepatide resulting in weight loss between 16%-27% of initial body weight.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite a loss-of-function PCSK1 mutation disrupting the POMC pathway, the two cases are suggestive of GLP-1RA efficacy both upstream and downstream POMC, illustrating a need for further investigations of the mechanism of action for GLP-1RA-based therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149168507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effect of Submaximal Doses of Semaglutide on the Expression of Microribonucleic Acid in Patients with Obesity: A Pilot Study.","authors":"Jakub Jurica, Zuzana Miertová, Martin Jozef Péč, Boris Focko, Andrej Miert, Peter Tudík, Nórbert Nagy, Ivana Ságová, Monika Péčová, Tomáš Bolek, Peter Galajda, Miroslava Šarlinová, Dana Dvorská, Dušan Braný, Ivana Baranová, Andrea Kapinová, Zuzana Danková, Erika Halašová, Marián Mokáň, Matej Samoš","doi":"10.1159/ofa/adzag002","DOIUrl":"10.1159/ofa/adzag002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) including semaglutide have emerged as some of the most potent drugs in the treatment of obesity. This effect can be mediated by changes in the regulation of microribonucleic acid (miRNA) expression. However, currently, there are no data regarding the effect of GLP-1RA on the expression of miRNA in patients with obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of semaglutide therapy administered at submaximal doses on changes of miRNA in obese patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a pilot, prospective, observational, post-marketing study enrolling 31 adult individuals with obesity treated with semaglutide at submaximal doses. Blood samples were taken prior to and after 6 months of semaglutide administration for plasma miRNA levels. All patients received submaximal doses of semaglutide ranging from 0.25 mg to 1.5 mg once weekly.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We observed a nominally significant increase in the expression of hsa-miR-151b (Homo sapiens microRNA), hsa-miR-223-3p, hsa-miR-27b-3p, hsa-miR-29c-3p, hsa-miR-4284 and a nominally significant decrease in the expression of hsa-miR-1273f, hsa-miR-4644, hsa-miR-6071 after 6 months of semaglutide treatment. However, none of the associations remained significant after FDR correction.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study demonstrated a nominally significant change in the expression of 8 miRNAs after the 6-month treatment with submaximal doses of semaglutide in patients with obesity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149112912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of Night Shift Work and Related Risk Factors with Overweight and Obesity across Europe: The SHIFT2HEALTH Online Survey.","authors":"Sandra Haider, Monique H Vingerhoeds, Maria Wakolbinger, Kyriaki Papantoniou, Isabel Santonja, Katrin Scionti, Vanessa Schoissengeier, Karl-Heinz Wagner, Hannah Jilani, Urte Klink, Katarzyna W Binder-Olibrowska, Jarosław Rakoczy, Magdalena Agnieszka Wrzesińska, Coen Dros, Heidi Lammers-van der Holst, Meeke Ummels, Marlies Wallner, Anna Lena Aufschnaiter, Christina Höfler, Bianca Fuchs-Neuhold, Daniela Grach, Catalina Cuparencu, Logan Stuck, Hendriek C Boshuizen, Imke Mattulat, Edith Feskens, Eva Winzer","doi":"10.1159/ofa/adzag009","DOIUrl":"10.1159/ofa/adzag009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Night shift work is associated with higher risk of overweight/obesity (OW/OB). This study examines the prevalence of OW/OB among current and former night shift workers, compared to day workers, across Europe, and assesses the influence of night shift metrics and lifestyle/psychosocial factors on this relationship.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data on participants' self-reported BMI, night shift metrics, sociodemographic, and lifestyle/psychosocial factors were collected via an online survey in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain (May 2024-January 2025). Logistic regression models analysed the associations between night shift work metrics, lifestyle/psychosocial factors, and OW/OB, accounting for additional adjustments.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 6,148 Europeans (mean age: 40.6 [10.6] years; 50% female), OW/OB prevalence was highest in Germany and lowest in Denmark (61% vs. 41%; p < 0.001). Current and former night shift workers exhibited higher prevalence of obesity (OR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.33-1.99; OR 1.51 95% CI: 1.19-1.93) than day workers. Longer, more frequent, and rotating night shift exposure correlated with higher odds of OW/OB. Among current night shift workers, factors such as fast eating rate, physical inactivity, and moderate/high alcohol consumption influenced OW/OB prevalence, with unfavourable dietary patterns linked to OB. Adjustments for lifestyle/psychosocial factors had minimal impact on these outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Current and former night shift workers exhibited a higher prevalence of OW/OB than day workers. Lifestyle factors, especially eating rate and physical activity, partly explain this elevated risk. Therefore, prevention strategies could benefit from combining organizational, environmental, and workplace interventions, particularly since an elevated BMI may persist even after night shift work has ceased.</p>","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148970426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethanol Pharmacokinetics and Alcohol-Related Effects after One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass: A Prospective before-after Study.","authors":"Elchanan Quint, Daniel Porat, Almog Eliyahu Dahan, Ilia Pinsk, Artur Windman, Ivan Kukeev, Arik Dahan, Oleg Dukhno","doi":"10.1159/ofa/adzag007","DOIUrl":"10.1159/ofa/adzag007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Metabolic-bariatric surgery is associated with altered ethanol pharmacokinetics and increased alcohol-related risk. While these changes have been described after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, data regarding one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) have not been reported. This exploratory study evaluated changes in alcohol absorption, elimination, and subjective intoxication following OAGB.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this prospective before-after interventional study, adults undergoing OAGB were assessed preoperatively and at 1 month and 4 months postoperatively. At each visit, participants ingested 200 mL of red wine (13.5% alcohol by volume; ∼21.3 g ethanol). Breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) was measured at fixed time points over 2 h using a calibrated breathalyzer. Pharmacokinetic parameters, including maximum concentration (C_max), time to maximum concentration (T_max), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC_0-inf), and elimination half-life (t_1/2), were determined. Subjective alcohol effects were assessed using a standardized symptom questionnaire, and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships were examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten participants (mean age 42 ± 12.8 years; 60% female) were included in this study. Mean C_max increased from 0.43 ± 0.33 g·L-1 preoperatively to 1.19 ± 0.30 g·L-1 at 1 month and 1.24 ± 0.36 g·L-1 at 4 months postoperatively. AUC_0-inf increased from 21.0 ± 15.2 to 71.2 ± 31.5 and 91.2 ± 39.3 g·min·L-1, respectively. Ethanol elimination half-life was prolonged after surgery, and differences remained statistically significant after BMI standardization. Intoxication symptom scores increased postoperatively and positively correlated with pharmacokinetic parameters, with C_max having the strongest association.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>OAGB alters ethanol pharmacokinetics, leading to higher peak alcohol concentrations, increased systemic exposure, and enhanced subjective alcohol effects. Even modest alcohol intake may potentially lead to high BrAC levels after OAGB, reflecting the need for clinician-led patient education and advice on safer alcohol use after surgery. Given the small sample size, participant attrition, and short postoperative observation period, the study findings should be interpreted with caution.</p>","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148920263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Acceptability of a Specialist Obesity-Treatment Intervention (Fast Track to Health) for Adolescents: A Mixed-Method Study.","authors":"Sarah Lang, Eve T House, Natalie B Lister, Hiba Jebeile, Johanna Hoare, Kaitlin Day, Megan L Gow, Mary-Kate Inkster, Justin Brown, Helen Truby","doi":"10.1159/ofa/adzag010","DOIUrl":"10.1159/ofa/adzag010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fast Track to Health was a 12-month intervention for adolescents with obesity and associated complications. Adolescents followed a very low-energy diet and intermittent energy restriction (IER) or continuous energy restriction (CER). This study explored adolescents', parents', and dietitians' perspectives of the intervention.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A convergent parallel mixed-methods evaluation was conducted. Acceptability questionnaires were collected from adolescents (week 16: n = 113, week 52: n = 88) and parents (week 16: n = 108, week 52: n = 80). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescents (n = 14), parents (n = 11), and dietitians (n = 6) at week 52. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Adolescents rated enjoyability (score 0-100) at week 16 (mean [SD] IER: 63.5 [21.1] vs. CER: 65.9 [20.2], p = 0.550) and week 52 (IER: 67.2 [18.1] vs. CER: 61.0 [23.4], p = 0.198), showing no significant difference between groups. Most parents reported benefits at week 16 (IER: 86% vs. CER: 93%, p = 0.263) and week 52 (IER: 79% vs. CER: 83%, p = 0.717). Adolescents positively rated their experience with dietitians. Qualitative feedback emphasised the impact of clear dietary advice, easy and frequent access to support, continuity of care, and family engagement.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This evaluation offers insights into a specialised dietary intervention for adolescents. Findings can inform future obesity treatments for adolescents in outpatient tertiary healthcare settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148913055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-Term Trends in Asthma Burden Attributable to High Body Mass Index among Children Aged 0-14 Years in Asia, 1990-2050: An Analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.","authors":"Chushi Xu, Kaili Xu","doi":"10.1159/ofa/adzag008","DOIUrl":"10.1159/ofa/adzag008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Childhood overweight and obesity represent a growing global public health challenge. Given the substantial socioeconomic heterogeneity across Asia, a systematic assessment of the disease burden attributable to high body mass index (BMI) in children and its evolving characteristics is critical. Within the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2023 risk-attribution framework for children, asthma is the only disease outcome currently included. Therefore, this study focuses on the asthma burden attributable to high BMI in children. To systematically analyze the trends and characteristics of asthma burden attributable to high BMI among children aged 0-14 years in Asia from 1990 to 2050.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data on the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and crude DALY rates (CDRs) for asthma attributable to high BMI among children in Asia were obtained from the GBD 2023. Trends were measured using estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), and future projections were made with a Bayesian age-period-cohort model. Spearman's correlation assessed the link between disease burden and the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), and a decomposition analysis examined drivers of DALY changes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children in East Asia had the highest CDR for asthma attributable to high BMI (16.28/100,000) in 2023 and experienced the largest increase from 1990 to 2023 (EAPC = 1.57%/year), with future trends projected to rise through 2023-2050 (EAPC = 4.49%/year). In high-income Asia Pacific, the 2023 CDR (14.49/100,000) reflected a steady decline since 1990 (EAPC = -0.82%/year). Children in South Asia had the lowest CDR (1.94/100,000). In most countries and territories, the increase in CDR was greater among girls than boys, a sex disparity particularly pronounced in South Asia and Southeast Asia. SDI was positively correlated with the CDR (ρ = 0.54, p < 0.001) and its EAPC during 1990-2023 (ρ = 0.33, p = 0.021). Decomposition analysis showed epidemiological change as the main driver of East Asia's rising burden.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The high BMI-attributed asthma burden in children is most severe and rising fastest in East Asia, while South and Southeast Asia show pronounced sex disparities. These findings provide an epidemiological foundation for targeted prevention and control strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148897680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epigenetic insights into pediatric obesity: microRNA profiling across puberty and insulin resistance-related stratification.","authors":"Clarissa Gervasoni, Aurora Lanzotti, Chiara Ceriani, Bruno Giovanni Galuzzi, Gloria Pelizzo, Ugo Maria Pierucci, GianVincenzo Zuccotti, Gloria Rita Bertoli, Valeria Calcaterra","doi":"10.1159/ofa/adzag004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/ofa/adzag004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Pediatric obesity is a major global health challenge due to its increasing prevalence and elevated risk of early metabolic disease, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying adipose tissue dysfunction in childhood remain poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this cohort-based study, we profiled the expression of 10 obesity-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) and four target genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue from 29 children classified as normal-weight (NW) or overweight/obese (OW/OB). Molecular data were integrated with anthropometric, pubertal, and metabolic parameters, including the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as a fasting surrogate index of insulin resistance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>OW/OB children exhibited a distinct miRNA and gene expression signature that accurately discriminated them from NW subjects. Physiological correlations between miRNAs and clinical parameters observed in NW were largely disrupted in OW/OB. In NW children, miR-221 and miR-26b correlated with growth and lipid parameters, whereas in OW/OB children miR-130a-3p, miR-34a and let-7d associated with pubertal stage and HOMA-IR. Pubertal stratification revealed distinct molecular profiles in prepubertal OW/OB subjects, identifying puberty as a critical window for obesity-related molecular remodeling. Notably, miRNA alterations were detectable in OW/OB children in the lower HOMA-IR stratum, suggesting that adipose tissue molecular dysregulation precedes systemic metabolic impairment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings identify a puberty- and HOMA-IR-associated miRNA signature in pediatric adipose tissue, highlighting early epigenetic remodeling in obesity. Because these signatures were identified in adipose tissue, future studies should determine whether comparable molecular profiles can also be detected in blood before any clinical application is considered. This molecular profile may represent a promising candidate for investigation in early risk stratification and targeted intervention in pediatric populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148841014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Longitudinal Changes in Body Composition, Adaptive Thermogenesis, and Muscle Strength in Patients with Obesity Treated with Semaglutide.","authors":"Francesca Filippi-Arriaga, Marta Comas, Anna Prats, Anna Juan, Elina Vidal, Pilar Costa, Vanesa Flores, Cora Oliver-Vila, Enzamaria Fidilio, Andreea Ciudin","doi":"10.1159/000553510","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000553510","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction: &lt;/strong&gt;Obesity management increasingly emphasizes not only total weight reduction but also the quality of weight loss, reflecting the balance between fat and lean tissue changes, preservation of strength capacity, and changes in energy expenditure. Semaglutide is effective for weight management, yet its integrated real-world effects on body composition, resting energy expenditure (REE), adaptive thermogenesis (AT), and muscle strength in adults with obesity without diabetes remain incompletely characterized.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;We performed a single-center, retrospective observational study in routine care at the Obesity Treatment Unit (UTIO), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (Barcelona, Spain), January 2024-December 2025. Adults (≥18 years) with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and without diabetes were included if baseline (V1) and 12-month (V2) data were available. Patients were classified as lifestyle educational program (n = 39) or lifestyle educational program plus semaglutide (n = 44), requiring ≥70% exposure during follow-up. Anthropometry, dominant handgrip strength, body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis, and REE by indirect calorimetry were assessed at V1 and V2. Musculoskeletal remodeling was evaluated using continuous, age-, and BMI-dependent Skeletal Muscle Index Standardized Deviation Scores (SMI-SDS) validated against gold-standard MRI data. Between-group differences were tested using ANCOVA or rank ANCOVA with the absolute change from baseline (delta [Δ]) as the dependent variable, adjusted for the baseline age, gender, and body weight; partial eta squared (η2p) was reported. A study-specific predictive equation was derived to estimate REE and calculate AT from measured versus predicted REE at baseline and 12 months, with an external sensitivity analysis using the Ostendorf equation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Semaglutide group was associated with significantly greater 12-month reductions in body weight (Δ -11.0 kg, p = 0.001), BMI (Δ -4.0 kg/m2, p = 0.001), and waist circumference (Δ -7.0 cm, p = 0.002) versus lifestyle group. WtHR showed a small, nonsignificant increase with lifestyle group (Δ + 0.01) versus a significant decrease in semaglutide group (Δ -0.04); the between-group difference was statistically significant after covariate adjustment (p &lt; 0.001). Bioelectrical impedance analysis showed significant reductions in adiposity (including fat mass and indicative visceral fat area trends) in semaglutide group; skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and fat-free mass (FFM) also decreased in the semaglutide group (SMM = 29.9 to 28.7 kg; FFM = 53.8 to 52.7 kg; p &lt; 0.001). Crucially, reference-based muscle evaluation revealed a highly significant structural improvement in SMI-SDS selectively in semaglutide group (delta 0.52 vs. 0.09 in lifestyle group; adjusted p &lt; 0.001), demonstrating qualitative muscle mass optimization despite absolute lean tissue loss. Absolute handgrip strength wa","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623382/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148818932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Do We Need Body Composition Analysis in Patients with Obesity? A Rethinking of Body Composition Assessment in Preclinical and Clinical Obesity.","authors":"Manfred J Müller, Steven B Heymsfield, Anja Bosy-Westphal","doi":"10.1159/ofa/adzag006","DOIUrl":"10.1159/ofa/adzag006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Recent consensus statements from the European Association for the Study of Obesity and the 2024 Lancet Obesity Commission have renewed the debate on how obesity should be defined and clinically characterized. Although both frameworks acknowledge the limitations of body mass index (BMI), they continue to rely largely on anthropometric measures, including BMI and waist circumference, for diagnosis and risk stratification. Body composition analysis (BCA), however, has received comparatively little attention. Obesity is a heterogeneous condition characterized not only by excess adiposity but also by differences in fat distribution, ectopic fat accumulation, and skeletal muscle mass. Advances in imaging and body composition methodology now enable a more detailed assessment of these components and their metabolic consequences.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>This perspective examines the potential role of BCA in the assessment of preclinical and clinical obesity. Rather than focusing on what can technically be measured, we address the clinically relevant questions of what should be measured and in which patients. Specifically, we discuss whether fat mass should replace BMI for diagnosing obesity, whether visceral adipose tissue should replace waist circumference for cardiometabolic risk assessment, whether liver fat should be routinely assessed, and whether skeletal muscle mass should be evaluated in clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Key messages: </strong>BCA provides clinically relevant information that complements, rather than necessarily replaces, traditional anthropometric measures. When used selectively, BCA may improve risk stratification, facilitate the monitoring of treatment responses, and support more individualized management strategies for patients with obesity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148796085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of Body Weight and Waist Circumference before, during, and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Population-Based Sample of 212,109 Young Men.","authors":"Tuomas Tenkanen, Kai Pihlainen, Jani Raitanen, Jani P Vaara, Heikki Kyröläinen, Harri Sievänen, Tommi Vasankari","doi":"10.1159/ofa/adzag005","DOIUrl":"10.1159/ofa/adzag005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study investigated population-level changes in body weight and waist circumference before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic among young Finnish men with an average age of 20 years.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study used data collected by the Finnish Defence Forces on body weight and waist circumference from 212,109 young men, with a mean age of 20.0 ± 1.1 years, commencing their compulsory military service between 2014 and 2023 (on average 21,211 individuals annually). Mean values, their confidence intervals (CIs), proportion of overweight and obese individuals, and deciles were determined for each study year. Interrupted time-series analysis was used to compare trends before (2014-2020) and after (2021-2023) the onset of COVID-19. Moreover, we fitted linear and quadratic regression prediction models to the observed data to predict the development of body weight or waist circumference for the years 2024-2034.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In year 2021, mean body weight was 0.72 kg (95% CI: 0.35-1.09, p < 0.001) and mean waist circumference was 0.39 cm greater (95% CI: 0.27-0.51, p < 0.001) than the pre-pandemic level according to the interrupted time-series analysis. The values measured after the pandemic remained at this higher level. The proportion of abdominally overweight and obese individuals was greater after the pandemic (+1.72 percentage points for overweight, 95% CI: 1.29-2.15, p < 0.001 and +0.69 percentage points for obesity, 95% CI: 0.23-1.15, p = 0.003). Based on predictive models, the mean body weight and waist circumference of young Finnish men are likely to be greater over the next decade.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>After the COVID-19 pandemic, the mean waist circumference, body weight, and proportion of young men with overweight or obesity were significantly greater compared with the values measured before the pandemic. The increasing prevalence of obesity and overweight is a significant public health challenge and may contribute to a greater burden of noncommunicable diseases in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":19414,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Facts","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148796121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}