Cannabis compounds may boost metabolic health while supporting weight loss
May 12, 2026 / Cannabis research / Metabolic health / Type 2 diabetes / Obesity treatment / Cannabinoids
Preclinical research suggests whole-plant cannabis extracts may improve metabolic health and glucose regulation beyond THC alone, highlighting potential non-psychoactive cannabinoid pathways for obesity and type 2 diabetes therapies while underscoring the need for further clinical investigation.
Hidden in Plain Sight: The True Burden of Obesity and its Comorbidities
May 15, 2026 / Obesity care / Cardiometabolic disease / Chronic kidney disease / Type 2 diabetes / Real-world evidence
The CALOR real-world evidence study found obesity is frequently underdiagnosed, with many patients already experiencing cardiometabolic and kidney comorbidities at diagnosis, underscoring the need for earlier recognition, integrated care, and chronic disease-focused obesity management.
Is “yo‑yo dieting” really harmful? New analysis challenges long‑standing assumptions about weight cycling
May 15, 2026 / Yo-yo dieting / Weight cycling / Obesity treatment / Metabolic health / GLP-1 therapy
A new Lancet analysis found no strong evidence that “yo-yo dieting” independently harms metabolism or increases cardiometabolic risk, suggesting repeated weight-loss attempts remain beneficial and should not discourage obesity treatment or long-term metabolic health efforts.
Uncovering how obesity leads to Alzheimer’s disease
May 18, 2026 / Alzheimer’s disease / Obesity research / Lipid homeostasis / Neuroinflammation / GLP-1 therapy
Researchers identified a lipid-driven obesity-to-Alzheimer’s pathway, showing excess phosphatidylethanolamine disrupts neuroimmune signaling and accelerates amyloid pathology. Preclinical findings suggest restoring lipid homeostasis, potentially with ebselen or GLP-1 therapies, may offer earlier precision interventions for metabolically at-risk patients.
Chia seeds may boost fetal brain DHA during obesity-linked pregnancy
May 17, 2026 / Chia seeds / Pregnancy nutrition / DHA metabolism / Maternal obesity / Fetal brain development
Chia seed supplementation during obesity-associated pregnancy increased maternal and placental DHA levels and improved fetal brain omega-3 composition in rats, suggesting plant-based omega-3 sources may support fetal neurodevelopment and metabolic health during high-risk pregnancies.
Scientists Solve a 60-Year-Old Fat Cell Mystery — and It Changes What We Know About Obesity
May 15, 2026 / Obesity research / Fat cell biology / Lipodystrophy / Metabolic disease / Hormone-sensitive lipase
Researchers discovered hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) also regulates fat cell health within the nucleus, helping explain why HSL deficiency causes lipodystrophy instead of obesity. Findings redefine adipose tissue biology and may inform future therapies for obesity, diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction.
Carrot Expands AI Metabolic Health Program to Menopause
May 14, 2026 / Menopause care / Metabolic health / AI healthcare / GLP-1 therapy / Women’s health
Carrot expanded its AI-driven metabolic health platform to menopause care, integrating personalized lifestyle guidance, wearable data, coaching, hormone therapy, and GLP-1 support to address insulin resistance, metabolic changes, and workplace health impacts during midlife.
Viking Therapeutics Presents Data from its 13-Week Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral Dosing Trial of VK2735 at European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2026
May 12, 2026 / Obesity treatment / GLP-1 therapy / GIP agonist / Weight loss drug / Metabolic health
Viking Therapeutics reported Phase 2 data showing oral VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist, achieved up to 12.2% weight loss over 13 weeks with favorable tolerability, supporting advancement into Phase 3 obesity trials and expanding oral metabolic treatment options.
GLP-1 weight loss medications linked to significant drop in asthma flares
May 15, 2026 / GLP-1 therapy / Asthma management / Obesity treatment / Type 2 diabetes / Metabolic health
A large Danish study found GLP-1 medications were associated with fewer asthma exacerbations, reduced inhaler use, and lower pneumonia risk in patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes, highlighting potential anti-inflammatory and metabolic benefits beyond glycemic control.
Metabolic health emerges as key to brain and memory problems in bipolar disorder
May 17, 2026 / Bipolar disorder / Metabolic dysfunction / Insulin resistance / Cognitive impairment / Brain health
Researchers identified metabolic dysfunction, including insulin and leptin resistance, as a key driver of cognitive impairment and brain structure changes in bipolar disorder, highlighting metabolic health as a promising therapeutic target for improving memory, attention, and executive function.
Study to evaluate family healthy weight program for childhood obesity in primary care clinics in Louisiana and Tennessee
May 18, 2026 / Childhood obesity / Family health program / Pediatric metabolic health / Primary care / Lifestyle intervention
The COACH trial will evaluate family-based obesity interventions across Louisiana and Tennessee primary care clinics, testing personalized nutrition, lifestyle counseling, and community support strategies to improve weight, metabolic health, and quality of life in children with obesity.
Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors Identified in Two Studies
May 13, 2026 / Colorectal cancer / Early-onset cancer / Obesity risk / Metabolic syndrome / Antibiotic exposure
Two studies identified obesity, severe obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, family history, metabolic dysfunction, and prolonged antibiotic exposure as key contributors to rising early-onset colorectal cancer risk, reinforcing the growing role of modifiable metabolic and inflammatory factors in younger adults.
Alaunos Reports Preclinical ALN1003 Data Showing Effects on Insulin-Resistance-Related Biomarkers and Liver Histology in Diet-Induced Obesity Models
May 18, 2026 / Metabolic syndrome / Insulin resistance / Obesity treatment / Liver steatosis / Oral metabolic therapy
Alaunos reported preclinical data showing ALN1003 improved insulin resistance biomarkers and reduced liver fat accumulation in obesity mouse models, supporting further development of the oral metabolic therapy for metabolic syndrome and related cardiometabolic conditions.
Alaunos Highlights New Preclinical Data for Obesity Therapy
May 18, 2026 / Obesity therapy / Insulin resistance / Metabolic syndrome / MASLD / Oral metabolic drug
Alaunos reported encouraging preclinical obesity data for oral candidate ALN1003, demonstrating improvements in insulin resistance, adipose biomarkers, and liver steatosis in mouse models, supporting continued development for metabolic syndrome and MASLD despite early-stage limitations.
Tampa General Hospital Opens TGH Weight Management and Metabolic Health Center
May 18, 2025 / Obesity care / Metabolic health / Weight management / Bariatric surgery / Obesity medicine
Tampa General Hospital launched a physician-led metabolic health and weight management center offering personalized obesity care, including lifestyle intervention, obesity medicine, and surgical pathways for patients with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and related comorbidities.
Inside the GLP-1 Revolution
May 12, 2026 / GLP-1 drugs / Obesity treatment / Metabolic health / Type 2 diabetes / Weight-loss therapies
Duke researchers are partnering with pharma leaders to better understand next-generation GLP-1 therapies, including multi-hormone combinations targeting obesity and diabetes, while exploring mechanisms, metabolic effects, aging impacts, and strategies to improve efficacy, tolerability, and patient adherence.
Integrated multi-omics identifies distinct macrophage alterations during progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
May 18, 2026 / MASLD / MASH / Macrophages / Liver inflammation / Multi-omics
Multi-omics research identified distinct macrophage shifts during progression from MASLD to MASH, highlighting inflammatory GPNMB+ macrophages and IL32 signaling as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for liver inflammation, fibrosis, and metabolic liver disease progression.
Belapectin shows signs of benefit in MASH Phase 2b clinical trial
May 18, 2026 / MASH cirrhosis / Portal hypertension / Liver fibrosis / Belapectin / Esophageal varices
Belapectin demonstrated reduced esophageal varice development and favorable fibrosis biomarker trends in MASH cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension, supporting continued development of the galectin-3 inhibitor despite mixed Phase 2b trial results.
Scientists Uncover Cancer-Fighting Power of Popular Fatty Liver Drug
May 16, 2025 / Fatty liver disease / Liver cancer / Resmetirom / Hepatocellular carcinoma / Metabolic dysfunction
New research suggests Resmetirom may help prevent fatty liver-related liver cancer by reducing tumor-promoting MDK signaling, improving liver metabolism, and reshaping immune responses, highlighting potential dual benefits in MAFLD and hepatocellular carcinoma management.