Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

The past and future of obesity research

Nature Reviews Endocrinology volume 21, pages 666–667 (2025)Cite this article

Subjects

Over the past 20 years, obesity research has resulted in a better understanding of the complex disease mechanisms underlying the condition, including biological, behavioural, societal and environmental factors. Although obesity research in the past 10 years has resulted in very effective and safe obesity treatments, more research is needed to improve the lives of people with obesity.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Blüher, M. Obesity: global epidemiology and pathogenesis. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 15, 288–298 (2019).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Rubino, F. et al. Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 13, 221–262 (2025).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhang, Y. et al. Positional cloning of the mouse obese gene and its human homologue. Nature 372, 425–432 (1994).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Müller, T. D., Blüher, M., Tschöp, M. H. & DiMarchi, R. D. Anti-obesity drug discovery: advances and challenges. Nat. Rev. Drug. Discov. 21, 201–223 (2022).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wilding, J. P. H. et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. N. Engl. J. Med. 384, 989–1002 (2021).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Finan, B. et al. Unimolecular dual incretins maximize metabolic benefits in rodents, monkeys, and humans. Sci. Transl. Med. 5, 209ra151 (2013).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Jastreboff, A. M. et al. Tirzepatide for obesity treatment and diabetes prevention. N. Engl. J. Med. 392, 958–971 (2025).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kühnen, P. et al. Proopiomelanocortin deficiency treated with a melanocortin-4 receptor agonist. N. Engl. J. Med. 375, 240–246 (2016).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Carlsson, L. M. S. et al. Life expectancy after bariatric surgery in the Swedish Obese Subjects Study. N. Engl. J. Med. 383, 1535–1543 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Lincoff, A. M. et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without diabetes. N. Engl. J. Med. 389, 2221–2232 (2023).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München, University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Matthias Blüher

  2. Medical Department III — Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany

    Matthias Blüher

Authors
  1. Matthias Blüher
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Blüher.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

M.B. received honoraria as a consultant and speaker from Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Novartis and Sanofi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Blüher, M. The past and future of obesity research. Nat Rev Endocrinol 21, 666–667 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-025-01172-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-025-01172-2

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma.

Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research