Obesity is a complex medical condition characterized by excessive body fat accumulation that may impair health, often defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
Ranked by community outcomes, then evidence grade, Health Voice mentions, and recency.
Why it may help Obesity: Often low; supports metabolism
Why it may help Obesity: Ginger may aid in obesity management by increasing thermogenesis and satiety, potentially leading to reduced calorie intake and improved metabolic parameters.
Why it may help Obesity: Psyllium husk can aid obesity by promoting satiety and reducing caloric intake through its soluble fiber content, which forms a gel in the digestive tract and slows gastric emptying.
Caffeine is a stimulant that may influence metabolic health, weight management, and renal function. While it serves as a common adjuvant for migraine relief, its effects vary, potentially triggering anxiety or gastric reflux in sensitive individuals.
Why it may help Obesity: Cinnamon may aid in obesity management by improving insulin sensitivity, reducing blood glucose levels, and potentially influencing fat metabolism and storage.
Glucomannan is a highly viscous dietary fiber from konjac root studied for its potential role in weight management. It may influence satiety and metabolic markers through gut microbiome modulation and delayed gastric emptying.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is a fatty acid found in ruminant animal products, often supplemented for its potential, though unconfirmed, role in body composition and fat metabolism.
Acetylated carnitine that crosses BBB to support brain energy and mood.
Why it may help Obesity: Reduces inflammation tied to obesity
Why it may help Obesity: Bitter melon may assist in obesity management by improving glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce fat accumulation.
Why it may help Obesity: Green tea extract may aid obesity management by increasing thermogenesis and fat oxidation, contributing to a modest increase in energy expenditure and fat metabolism.
Garcinia cambogia is a tropical fruit extract, primarily containing hydroxycitric acid (HCA), often marketed for its potential role in weight management.
Why it may help Obesity: Exercise helps manage obesity by increasing energy expenditure, improving insulin sensitivity, and promoting fat oxidation, leading to a reduction in body fat mass.
Why it may help Obesity: Improves insulin resistance
Why it may help Obesity: Modest appetite/glucose control
Why it may help Obesity: Supports fat metabolism
Why it may help Obesity: Modest weight and fat loss
Why it may help Obesity: Reduces sweet cravings
Why it may help Obesity: Improves metabolic markers and weight
Mitochondrial antioxidant supporting cellular energy and heart health.
Why it may help Obesity: Alpha-Lipoic Acid may aid in obesity management by improving insulin sensitivity, enhancing glucose uptake, and reducing oxidative stress, which can contribute to weight loss.
Why it may help Obesity: Apple cider vinegar may help with obesity by improving post-meal glucose and insulin responses, potentially leading to reduced fat storage and increased satiety.
Ceylon cinnamon is a warming spice studied for modest improvements in fasting glucose.
Why it may help Obesity: Omega-3 fatty acids may help manage obesity by reducing inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity, and potentially influencing satiety hormones, which can collectively support weight regulation.
Why it may help Obesity: Probiotics may influence obesity by modulating gut microbiota composition, which can impact host metabolism, energy harvest from food, and inflammation pathways linked to weight gain.
Community outcomes
Self-reported by community members · not medical advice.
Self-reported community outcomes. Not medical advice. Requires at least three reports per remedy to surface.
Community outcome data is still being collected for this ailment.
Be the first to share your experience →As more members share outcomes, RemedyAtlas will show which remedies helped people with similar conditions, symptoms, goals, and lab patterns.
Structured experience reports from people managing this condition. Not medical advice.
You can share without an account — we'll send a one-time code to verify your email. Or sign in.
Loading posts…
Community Discussions
How global health authorities view Obesity.
Major health organizations like the WHO and Mayo Clinic emphasize lifestyle interventions, including diet and exercise, as primary strategies for obesity management. The NIH and NCCIH acknowledge some natural products for their potential roles in weight management or related metabolic health, but generally advise caution and emphasize that supplements should not replace conventional medical care. They often highlight the need for more robust research to confirm efficacy and safety, particularly for long-term use. Cochrane reviews often assess specific interventions, finding varying levels of evidence for different approaches.
Indexed studies for Obesity, grouped by source type and quality.
Filter by source type
Pooled analyses across multiple human trials.
Kristoffersen E, Hjort SL, Thomassen LM, Arjmand EJ, Perillo M, Balakrishna R · Nutrients · 2025 · n=100
Dietary choices play an essential role in energy balance and weight gain. This systematic umbrella review investigates the association between the intake of various food groups (whole grains, refined grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, eggs, total dairy, red meat, white meat, processed meat, added sugar, and sugar-sweetened beverages) and their associations to the risk of obesity and being overweight. We systematically searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Epistemonikos for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A total of 2925 articles were screened, and 13 articles were included in our analysis. For each food group, data included a mean of 166,100 participants and 36,760 cases, ranging from 19,885 participants and 7183 cases for red meat to 520,331 participants and 91,256 cases for nuts. Heterogeneity was high for most of the food groups except for whole grains and sugar-sweetened beverages. The quality of the most comprehensive meta-analyses was high for all fo
Gengxin Y, Xuehan M, Xinyu W, Yali Y, Yiran X, Lishuang Z · Age and ageing · 2025
Age-related changes in body composition such as muscle loss can lead to sarcopenia, which is closely associated with frailty. However, the effect of body fat accumulation on frailty in old age remains unclear. In particular, the association between the combination of these two conditions, known as sarcopenic obesity, and frailty in older adults is unclear. To synthesise the association between sarcopenic obesity and the risk of frailty and to investigate the role of obesity in the risk of frailty in old age. Six databases were searched from inception to 29 September 2024. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias for the included observational studies using the adapted Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The control groups consisted of robust, obese and sarcopenic individuals. Meta-analyses were performed to examine the risk of frailty due to sarcopenic obesity and the role of obesity in frailty amongst sarcopenic older adults. Sixteen eligible studies were in
Meta-analysis of Tuina combined with other treatments for obesity.
Zhang TY, Quan TW, Su JY, Liao TR, Yuan Y, Tang HZ · Medicine · 2025 · n=695
To evaluate the efficacy of Tuina (a form of Chinese therapeutic massage) combined with complementary therapies (such as auricular plaster therapy, acupuncture, or herbal medicine) on improving weight, body mass index (BMI), and body composition in obese patients. A comprehensive search of CNKI, Wanfang, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (from January 2004 to March 2024) was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Heterogeneity among studies was quantified using the I² statistic, and fixed-effects or random-effects models were applied as appropriate. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Eleven RCTs involving 695 patients were included. Tuina combined with complementary therapies significantly improved clinical efficacy (OR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.21, 3.03], P < .01; I² = 0%, fixed-effects model) and led to a substantial reduction in body weight (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -5.32
Structured reviews of the full body of evidence (incl. Cochrane).
Acupuncture for Treatment of Obesity: An Umbrella Review.
Chen M, Wu R, Chen R, Guo Q, Deng Y, Wang Y · Journal of evidence-based medicine · 2025
Systematic reviews on acupuncture for obesity report conflicting findings, and the certainty of this evidence remains unclear. This umbrella review appraises the evidence to identify which effects on body mass index (BMI) and body weight (BW) are supported by high-quality findings. We conducted an umbrella review by systematically searching PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through April 28, 2025 to obtain systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials evaluating acupuncture interventions for obesity. Two reviewers independently assessed methodological quality using a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews (AMSTAR) and evidence quality using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). We identified best evidence from high-quality systematic reviews with high or moderate GRADE ratings. Our analysis included 22 systematic reviews encompassing 60 meta-analyses. Seventeen reviews (77.3%) achieved high methodological quality ratings ac
Osteosarcopenic Adiposity and Vitamin D Status: A Comprehensive Review of the Current Evidence.
Cutrim AMV, Araújo MM, Botelho PB · Nutrition reviews · 2025
The simultaneous manifestation of obesity, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis represents a condition known as osteosarcopenic adiposity (OSA). While evidence suggests that vitamin D status may influence the development of OSA, the results are still divergent, and no clear understanding of how vitamin D, through serum concentrations or supplementation, impacts OSA and its metabolic implications. Although several studies have explored the association between vitamin D and various diseases, research specifically focused on OSA is limited, making it unfeasible to conduct a systematic review. Thus, this integrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between vitamin D (dietary intake and 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels) and OSA. The literature search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE database. Overall, 16 studies were included (cross-sectional studies, n = 7; a scoping review, n = 1; and integrative reviews
Nutrition, Obesity, and Seborrheic Dermatitis: Systematic Review.
Woolhiser E, Keime N, Patel A, Weber I, Adelman M, Dellavalle RP · JMIR dermatology · 2024 · n=906
Pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis involves lipid secretion by sebaceous glands, Malassezia colonization, and an inflammatory response with skin barrier disruption. Each of these pathways could be modulated by diet, obesity, and nutritional supplements. Current treatment options provide only temporary control of the condition; thus, it is essential to recognize modifiable lifestyle factors that may play a role in determining disease severity. This study aimed to summarize published evidence on diet, nutritional supplements, alcohol, obesity, and micronutrients in patients with seborrheic dermatitis and to provide useful insights into areas of further research. A literature search of Scopus, PubMed, and MEDLINE (Ovid interface) for English language papers published between 1993 and 2023 was conducted on April 16, 2023. Case-control studies, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials with 5 or more subjects conducted on adult participants (>14 years) were included, case rep
Recommendations from medical societies (NICE, AHA, ADA, ACG, Endocrine Society…).
Podda M, Ceresoli M, De Simone B, Fugazzola P, Pata F, Balla A · JAMA surgery · 2026
Acute appendicitis is the most common abdominal surgical emergency worldwide and a leading cause of emergency hospital admissions and operations. Despite its frequency, substantial variability persists in diagnosis and management across patient populations and health care settings. To provide updated, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of acute appendicitis in adults, children, pregnant women, older patients (aged ≥65 years), immunocompromised individuals, and patients with obesity (body mass index ≥30), developed by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant studies published until May 2025. Eligible designs included randomized clinical trials, observational studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Risk of
Managing obesity in children: a clinical practice guideline.
Ball GDC, Merdad R, Birken CS, Cohen TR, Goodman B, Hadjiyannakis S · CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2025
Obesity is a complex, chronic, stigmatized disease whereby abnormal or excess body fat may impair health or increase the risk of medical complications, and can reduce quality of life and shorten lifespan in children and families. We developed this guideline to provide evidence-based recommendations on options for managing pediatric obesity that support shared decision-making among children living with obesity, their families, and their health care providers. We followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. We used the Guidelines International Network principles to manage competing interests. Caregivers, health care providers, and people living with obesity participated throughout the guideline development process, which optimized relevance. We surveyed end users (caregivers, health care providers) to prioritize health outcomes, completed 3 scoping reviews (2 on minimal important difference estimates; 1 on clinical assessment), perform
Pharmacotherapy for obesity management in adults: 2025 clinical practice guideline update.
Pedersen SD, Manjoo P, Dash S, Jain A, Pearce N, Poddar M · CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2025
Pharmacotherapy is a key component of comprehensive obesity management, alongside behavioural therapy and metabolic and bariatric surgery. In this guideline, we update the pharmacotherapy recommendations in the 2020 Canadian clinical practice guideline on obesity in adults and in the 2022 pharmacotherapy for obesity management revision to provide current recommendations for clinicians on the efficacy, safety, and appropriate use of pharmacotherapy in the management of obesity in adults. This guideline update follows the same methodology as the 2020 Canadian guideline on obesity in adults, adhering to the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation instrument and using the Shekelle framework to assess and grade evidence and to formulate recommendations. Building on the search conducted for the 2022 pharmacotherapy revision, we conducted a systematic literature review (search dates January 2022 to July 2024), supplemented by relevant trials published through May 2025, to identif
Controlled human studies with random assignment.
Ganmaa D, Bromage S, Khudyakov P, Erdenenbaatar S, Delgererekh B, Martineau AR · JAMA pediatrics · 2023 · n=8851
Vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] <20 ng/mL) is prevalent among children living in temperate climates and has been reported to associate independently with stunting, obesity, and early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Phase 3 randomized clinical trials to investigate the influence of long-term vitamin D replacement on growth, body composition, and pubertal development of school-aged children with vitamin D deficiency are lacking. To determine whether weekly oral vitamin D supplementation influences linear growth, body composition, or pubertal development in school-aged children living in a setting where vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent. This secondary analysis of a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted from June 2016 to June 2019 at 18 grade schools in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. School-aged children (6 to 13 years at baseline) attending participating schools were included. Exclusion criteria
Nehmi-Filho V, Santamarina AB, de Freitas JA, Trarbach EB, de Oliveira DR, Palace-Berl F · Frontiers in endocrinology · 2022 · n=30
It is known that obesity has a multifactorial etiology that involves genetic and environmental factors. The WHO estimates the worldwide prevalence of 1.9 billion overweight adults and more than 650 million people with obesity. These alarming data highlight the high and growing prevalence of obesity and represent a risk factor for the development and aggravation of other chronic diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that is frequently considered the hepatic outcome of type 2 diabetes. The use of non-pharmacological therapies such as food supplements, nutraceuticals, and natural integrative therapies has grown as an alternative tool for obesity-related diseases compared to conventional medications. However, it is a still little explored research field and lacks scientific evidence of therapeutic effectiveness. Considering this, the aim is to evaluate whether a new nutraceutical supplement composition can improve and supply essential mineral nutrients, providing an im
Ojeda-Rodríguez A, Zazpe I, Morell-Azanza L, Chueca MJ, Azcona-Sanjulian MC, Marti A · Nutrients · 2018 · n=107
High rates of childhood obesity require integral treatment with lifestyle modifications that achieve weight loss. We evaluated a lifestyle intervention on nutrient adequacy and diet quality in children and adolescents with abdominal obesity. A randomized controlled trial was performed on 107 participants, assigned either to a usual care group or to an intensive care group that followed a moderate hypocaloric Mediterranean diet and received nutritional education. Intake adequacy was evaluated using Dietary Reference Intakes and diet quality through the Diet Quality Index for Adolescents (DQI-A), the Healthy Lifestyle Diet-Index (HLD-I) and the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED). Both groups achieved a significant reduction in BMI standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), glucose and total cholesterol levels. Intake of Calcium, Iodine and vitamin D were higher in the intensive care group, with enhanced compliance with recommendations. Higher dietary scores were associated with lower mic
Cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional human studies.
Zhang X, Liu J, Ni Y, Yi C, Fang Y, Ning Q · JAMA pediatrics · 2024
Overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence is a global health issue associated with adverse outcomes throughout the life course. To estimate worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents from 2000 to 2023 and to assess potential risk factors for and comorbidities of obesity. MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane. The inclusion criteria were: (1) studies provided adequate information, (2) diagnosis based on body mass index cutoffs proposed by accepted references, (3) studies performed on general population between January 2000 and March 2023, (4) participants were younger than 18 years. The current study was performed in accordance with the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model with Free-Tukey double arcsine transformation was used for data analysis. Sensitivity analysis, meta-regression, and subgroup analysis of obesity among children and adolescents were conducted. Pr
Oral vitamin D supplementation for adults with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery.
Chakhtoura MT, Nakhoul NF, Akl EA, Safadi BY, Mantzoros CS, Metzendorf MI · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024 · n=314
Vitamin D deficiency following bariatric surgery is common and is expected to be associated with a deleterious impact on the skeleton. However, the benefits of vitamin D supplementation and the optimal dose in this population is currently unknown. The available guidelines on the topic are derived from experts' opinions, and are not evidence based. To compare the effects of different doses of vitamin D supplementation (low dose (less than 600 international units (IU)/day), moderate dose (600 IU/day to 3500 IU/day), high dose (greater than 3500 IU/day)) to each other or to placebo in adults living with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, two trial registries, and the reference lists of systematic reviews, articles, and health technology assessment reports without language restrictions. The last search of all databases was 27 June 2023, except Embase, which we searched on 14 August 2015. We included randomised controlled trials or control
Factor PA, Corpuz H · Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies · 2023 · n=887
Myo-inositol has emerged as one of the preventive therapies for the development of gestational diabetes mellitus in at-risk populations. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of myo-inositol in decreasing the incidence of gestational diabetes in overweight and obese pregnant women. This meta-analysis was conducted using the standard Cochrane methodology and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that enrolled overweight and obese pregnant women and used myo-inositol supplementation. The primary outcome was the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus at 24-28 weeks. Secondary outcomes included cesarean section rate, the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension, macrosomia and preterm delivery. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used for dichotomous data. Six R
Public-health agencies: NCCIH, NIH, CDC, NHS.
WHO
Provides key facts, definitions, and statistics about obesity and overweight globally, including causes, common health consequences, and WHO's response.
CDC
Offers information on the causes, consequences, and prevention of obesity, tailored for public health professionals and the general public in the United States.
NHS
This page from the UK's National Health Service describes what obesity is, its causes, risks, and available treatments, providing advice for the public.
Registered ongoing or completed trials (ClinicalTrials.gov).
Evaluation of the Stress Response in Bariatric Surgery With and Without the Use of Opioids
n=70 · NCT05752799 · RECRUITING · RECRUITING
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare Opioid Free and Opioid Based Anaesthesia in patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Will the total dose of intraoperative opioid be reduced? * Will there be difference in pain scores between groups? Participants will be managed with the Nociceptive Level Index algorithm to guide intraoperative analgesia. The Opioid Free Anaesthesia Group will be administered the Multimix infusion (Magnesium sulfate, dexmedetomidine, ketamine). The Opioid Based Anaesthesia Group will receive fentanyl as a bolus dose and remifentanil infusion. Rescue fentanyl bolused will be injected as appropriate according to nociceptive level (NOL) values.
Exercise Impact on Dietary Protein Efficiency in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
n=30 · NCT07477067 · RECRUITING · RECRUITING
In this randomized controlled trial, 30 older adults (aged\> 65 years; 15 with T2D, 15 controls) will participate in a 12-week progressive exercise training program. They will undergo pre- and post-testing that includes body composition measures; oral glucose tolerance testing; cardiovascular fitness and muscle performance testing; dietary protein efficiency assessed using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method; and a gut microbiota trial. The dietary protein efficiency trial will include repeated ingestion of crystallized amino acids (drink) containing stable isotopes, urine samples, and breath samples. The gut microbiome trial will consist of a single ingestion of a Mediterranean-based modeled meal enriched with 13C-phenylalanine (in the drink) and repeated blood draws. Participants will also be asked to give a fecal sample after the gut microbiome trial.
n=100 · NCT07152470 · ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if motus, a natural supplement can support healthy weight loss and fat loss in a real world setting without caloric restrictions or exercise requirements. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can a daily dose of motus result in statistically significant weight loss over 3 month and 6 month time points. Participants will: Weigh-in at baseline and every week thereafter Take drug motus every day Complete a food tracker app for every meal and drink product consumed daily Complete an exercise tracker for any activities performed daily Complete weekly satisfaction surveys on various topics
Curated cross-source summaries (TRIP Database and similar).
Cochrane
A collection of systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesizing evidence on interventions for obesity, including diet, exercise, drugs, and surgery.
TRIP Database
A clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find high-quality research evidence to support their practice, including numerous resources on obesity.
Cochrane
This page displays a collection of systematic reviews and protocols from the Cochrane Library related to obesity. It synthesizes evidence on various interventions and management strategies.
Conventional medical care for obesity typically includes dietary counseling, exercise programs, behavioral therapy, and in some cases, prescription medications or bariatric surgery. A healthcare provider can help determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on individual health status and severity of obesity.
Latest News
Health Videos
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about your health or treatment, especially concerning obesity, which is a complex medical condition.
Found something that helped your obesity?
Help others see what actually works.
Found something that helped your obesity?
Real-world results help others choose what's worth trying.