Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1038/s41366-025-01914-2
Philipp Töpfer, Johanna Klinger-König, Ulrike Siewert-Markus, Sabine Schipf, Beate Fischer, Anja M. Sedlmeier, Antje Hebestreit, Wolfgang Ahrens, Klaus Berger, Hermann Brenner, Stefanie Do, Jana-Kristin Heise, Stefanie Jaskulski, André Karch, Thomas Keil, Carolina Klett-Tammen, Michael F. Leitzmann, Annette Peters, Börge Schmidt, Matthias B. Schulze, Stefan N. Willich, Marcus Dörr, Henry Völzke, Marcello R. P. Markus, Sylvia Stracke, Hans J. Grabe, Till Ittermann
The relationship between childhood maltreatment (CM) and obesity is nuanced, and recent evidence suggests stronger associations between CM and obesity-related traits in females compared to males. This study aims to validate and extend these findings in a large sample from the German National Cohort (NAKO). The NAKO is a population-based cohort study including 204,744 adults. For the present analyses, 151,143 individuals (74,596 female) were included. CM was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Screener (CTS). From the CTS, an overall severity score (CTS sum score), a cumulative CM score (number of CM subtypes with at least moderate severity), and five CTS subtypes were considered as exposures. Obesity-related traits included anthropometric (height, weight, body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC]) and body fat markers (relative fat mass [rFM], subcutaneous [SAT], visceral adipose tissue [VAT]). Sex-stratified linear and logistic regression models were adjusted for age, education, and examination center to associate CTS-based scores with obesity-related traits. Associations of the CTS sum score with weight, BMI, WC, rFM, and SAT were stronger in females compared to males, while similar associations were observed for VAT. In both sexes, most obesity-related traits exhibited dose-response relationships with increasing numbers of CM subtypes. Compared to unexposed females, females with exposure to ≥3 CM subtypes had a higher risk for obesity (i.e., BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2; OR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.43, 1.71) and high WC (i.e., WC ≥ 88 cm; OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.29, 1.50). In males, exposure to ≥3 CM subtypes was also associated with increased obesity risk (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.32, 1.72) and high WC (i.e., WC ≥ 102 cm; OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.44). Physical and emotional abuse exhibited the strongest average associations and were associated with the most outcomes. Associations of CM exposure with adult anthropometric and body fat markers are stronger in females compared to males.
{"title":"Sex-dependent associations of childhood maltreatment with obesity-related traits: results from the German National Cohort (NAKO)","authors":"Philipp Töpfer, Johanna Klinger-König, Ulrike Siewert-Markus, Sabine Schipf, Beate Fischer, Anja M. Sedlmeier, Antje Hebestreit, Wolfgang Ahrens, Klaus Berger, Hermann Brenner, Stefanie Do, Jana-Kristin Heise, Stefanie Jaskulski, André Karch, Thomas Keil, Carolina Klett-Tammen, Michael F. Leitzmann, Annette Peters, Börge Schmidt, Matthias B. Schulze, Stefan N. Willich, Marcus Dörr, Henry Völzke, Marcello R. P. Markus, Sylvia Stracke, Hans J. Grabe, Till Ittermann","doi":"10.1038/s41366-025-01914-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41366-025-01914-2","url":null,"abstract":"The relationship between childhood maltreatment (CM) and obesity is nuanced, and recent evidence suggests stronger associations between CM and obesity-related traits in females compared to males. This study aims to validate and extend these findings in a large sample from the German National Cohort (NAKO). The NAKO is a population-based cohort study including 204,744 adults. For the present analyses, 151,143 individuals (74,596 female) were included. CM was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Screener (CTS). From the CTS, an overall severity score (CTS sum score), a cumulative CM score (number of CM subtypes with at least moderate severity), and five CTS subtypes were considered as exposures. Obesity-related traits included anthropometric (height, weight, body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC]) and body fat markers (relative fat mass [rFM], subcutaneous [SAT], visceral adipose tissue [VAT]). Sex-stratified linear and logistic regression models were adjusted for age, education, and examination center to associate CTS-based scores with obesity-related traits. Associations of the CTS sum score with weight, BMI, WC, rFM, and SAT were stronger in females compared to males, while similar associations were observed for VAT. In both sexes, most obesity-related traits exhibited dose-response relationships with increasing numbers of CM subtypes. Compared to unexposed females, females with exposure to ≥3 CM subtypes had a higher risk for obesity (i.e., BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2; OR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.43, 1.71) and high WC (i.e., WC ≥ 88 cm; OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.29, 1.50). In males, exposure to ≥3 CM subtypes was also associated with increased obesity risk (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.32, 1.72) and high WC (i.e., WC ≥ 102 cm; OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.44). Physical and emotional abuse exhibited the strongest average associations and were associated with the most outcomes. Associations of CM exposure with adult anthropometric and body fat markers are stronger in females compared to males.","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":"50 2","pages":"329-337"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-025-01914-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146131820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1038/s41366-025-01944-w
Michael Rosenbaum, Kelly C Allison, Maren R Laughlin, Stephanie S Kelley, Joel Nunez-Matos, Michael Rickles, Lillian Chau, Gary Wu, Payman Zamani, Kathryn J Whyte, Rudolph L Leibel, Matthew R Hayes
The Physiology Of the WEight Reduced State (POWERS) study is a multi-center clinical trial designed to understand the physiological basis for observed variability in weight regain following intentional weight loss among US adults. The primary dependent variable is weight regain over one year following a 7% or greater supervised weight loss. The overarching design and study organization, along with rationale and history of the POWERS study and outcomes measures are described in accompanying papers. This paper provides the rationale for and description of biospecimens samples that will ultimately inform on the molecular and cellular basis of the physiological variability that contributes to the regulation of energy balance in the weight reduced state. Participants will be 205 healthy adults (n = 205), aged 25-59 years, with body mass index (BMI) 30- ≤ 40 kg/m2. Biospecimens will be collected prior to weight loss (baseline, BL), immediately following weight loss via lifestyle intervention (T0), and then four (T4) and twelve (T12) months after weight loss. Blood will be collected in the fasting state and following a meal challenge designed to induce hormones related to satiety. Weight change from T0 to T12 will be the primary outcome variable. Biospecimens to be collected include plasma, serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), DNA, urine, feces, adipose and skeletal muscle tissue. All samples will be biobanked at each site. This manuscript describes the rationale for the biospecimens chosen to assess contributors to homeostatic mechanisms that drive observed variability of weight regain after weight loss.
{"title":"The Physiology Of the WEight Reduced State (POWERS) study: strategies for the analysis of biological specimens.","authors":"Michael Rosenbaum, Kelly C Allison, Maren R Laughlin, Stephanie S Kelley, Joel Nunez-Matos, Michael Rickles, Lillian Chau, Gary Wu, Payman Zamani, Kathryn J Whyte, Rudolph L Leibel, Matthew R Hayes","doi":"10.1038/s41366-025-01944-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-01944-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Physiology Of the WEight Reduced State (POWERS) study is a multi-center clinical trial designed to understand the physiological basis for observed variability in weight regain following intentional weight loss among US adults. The primary dependent variable is weight regain over one year following a 7% or greater supervised weight loss. The overarching design and study organization, along with rationale and history of the POWERS study and outcomes measures are described in accompanying papers. This paper provides the rationale for and description of biospecimens samples that will ultimately inform on the molecular and cellular basis of the physiological variability that contributes to the regulation of energy balance in the weight reduced state. Participants will be 205 healthy adults (n = 205), aged 25-59 years, with body mass index (BMI) 30- ≤ 40 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. Biospecimens will be collected prior to weight loss (baseline, BL), immediately following weight loss via lifestyle intervention (T0), and then four (T4) and twelve (T12) months after weight loss. Blood will be collected in the fasting state and following a meal challenge designed to induce hormones related to satiety. Weight change from T0 to T12 will be the primary outcome variable. Biospecimens to be collected include plasma, serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), DNA, urine, feces, adipose and skeletal muscle tissue. All samples will be biobanked at each site. This manuscript describes the rationale for the biospecimens chosen to assess contributors to homeostatic mechanisms that drive observed variability of weight regain after weight loss.</p>","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146124902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1038/s41366-026-02029-y
Mohammed Ayyad
{"title":"Burgers, brains, and evolution: biological and philosophical roots of fat craving.","authors":"Mohammed Ayyad","doi":"10.1038/s41366-026-02029-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-026-02029-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1038/s41366-026-02021-6
Petra Gašparová, Zuzana Ballová, Martina Sitáš, Erik Dosedla
Introduction: The global rise in maternal obesity presents a growing public health challenge, with significant implications for pregnancy outcomes. This study offers a comprehensive retrospective analysis of changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) among pregnant women during labor over four decades.
Material and methods: BMI data were retrospectively collected from 13,193 pregnant women divided into three cohorts: Group 0 (1986-1990), Group 1 (2009-2013), and Group 2 (2024).
Results: Mean BMI increased significantly from 23.75 kg/m² in Group 0 to 27.33 kg/m² in Group 2 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of obesity rose more than fivefold, from 4.87% to 25.76%. Regression analysis confirmed a linear and statistically significant upward trajectory across all groups.
Conclusions: The sustained increase in maternal BMI underscores the urgency of implementing targeted interventions, including preconception counseling and personalized antenatal care, to mitigate the adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with elevated BMI.
{"title":"Changes in body mass index among pregnant women during labor over four decades: a retrospective longitudinal analysis.","authors":"Petra Gašparová, Zuzana Ballová, Martina Sitáš, Erik Dosedla","doi":"10.1038/s41366-026-02021-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-026-02021-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The global rise in maternal obesity presents a growing public health challenge, with significant implications for pregnancy outcomes. This study offers a comprehensive retrospective analysis of changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) among pregnant women during labor over four decades.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>BMI data were retrospectively collected from 13,193 pregnant women divided into three cohorts: Group 0 (1986-1990), Group 1 (2009-2013), and Group 2 (2024).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mean BMI increased significantly from 23.75 kg/m² in Group 0 to 27.33 kg/m² in Group 2 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of obesity rose more than fivefold, from 4.87% to 25.76%. Regression analysis confirmed a linear and statistically significant upward trajectory across all groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The sustained increase in maternal BMI underscores the urgency of implementing targeted interventions, including preconception counseling and personalized antenatal care, to mitigate the adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with elevated BMI.</p>","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1038/s41366-026-02023-4
Mila H C Dix, Evert-Jan G Boerma, Carolien Martijn, Julian Burger, Lotte H J M Lemmens, Anita T M Jansen
Background: Candidates for metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) experience significantly higher rates of mental disorders compared to the general population. While previous studies have primarily focused on a limited range of mental health conditions, this study expands the scope by studying a broader spectrum of psychopathological symptoms. Our aim was to map the psychopathological profile of candidates for MBS and to test whether individuals higher in general psychopathology exhibit a higher body mass index (BMI) and more severe eating disorder symptoms than those lower in general psychopathology.
Methods: A total of 222 candidates for MBS from the Dutch Obesity Clinic completed 16 questionnaires to generate a comprehensive psychopathological profile. Cluster analysis was applied to identify distinct groups based on general psychopathology. The clusters were compared on BMI and eating disorder psychopathology. A cross-sectional network approach was used to explore the complex interconnections between symptoms.
Results: Two clusters emerged: a high psychopathology profile (high PP; 29%) characterized by elevated scores on general psychopathology, and a low psychopathology profile (low PP; 71%) marked by healthier psychological functioning. The high PP cluster exhibited more severe eating disorder psychopathology than the low PP cluster, while the clusters did not differ in BMI. The symptom network revealed that general psychopathology is linked to eating disorder psychopathology through the bridge symptom 'eating concerns.'
Conclusions: Approximately one-third of the individuals presenting for MBS exhibit elevated, transdiagnostic psychopathology with complex connections between symptoms. Notably, BMI was not associated with the severity of symptoms. The symptom network analysis highlights that 'eating concerns' serve as a crucial bridge linking eating disorder symptoms and symptoms of emotional disorders. Future research should focus on the transdiagnostic nature of psychopathology associated with obesity and investigate its potential impact on treatment outcomes, such as weight loss and quality of life.
{"title":"The psychopathological profile of candidates for metabolic bariatric surgery: a transdiagnostic and network approach.","authors":"Mila H C Dix, Evert-Jan G Boerma, Carolien Martijn, Julian Burger, Lotte H J M Lemmens, Anita T M Jansen","doi":"10.1038/s41366-026-02023-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41366-026-02023-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Candidates for metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) experience significantly higher rates of mental disorders compared to the general population. While previous studies have primarily focused on a limited range of mental health conditions, this study expands the scope by studying a broader spectrum of psychopathological symptoms. Our aim was to map the psychopathological profile of candidates for MBS and to test whether individuals higher in general psychopathology exhibit a higher body mass index (BMI) and more severe eating disorder symptoms than those lower in general psychopathology.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 222 candidates for MBS from the Dutch Obesity Clinic completed 16 questionnaires to generate a comprehensive psychopathological profile. Cluster analysis was applied to identify distinct groups based on general psychopathology. The clusters were compared on BMI and eating disorder psychopathology. A cross-sectional network approach was used to explore the complex interconnections between symptoms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two clusters emerged: a high psychopathology profile (high PP; 29%) characterized by elevated scores on general psychopathology, and a low psychopathology profile (low PP; 71%) marked by healthier psychological functioning. The high PP cluster exhibited more severe eating disorder psychopathology than the low PP cluster, while the clusters did not differ in BMI. The symptom network revealed that general psychopathology is linked to eating disorder psychopathology through the bridge symptom 'eating concerns.'</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Approximately one-third of the individuals presenting for MBS exhibit elevated, transdiagnostic psychopathology with complex connections between symptoms. Notably, BMI was not associated with the severity of symptoms. The symptom network analysis highlights that 'eating concerns' serve as a crucial bridge linking eating disorder symptoms and symptoms of emotional disorders. Future research should focus on the transdiagnostic nature of psychopathology associated with obesity and investigate its potential impact on treatment outcomes, such as weight loss and quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1038/s41366-026-02026-1
Na Wang, Mingyue Xiao, Xiaofang Hou, Chenxuan Lu, Ruyin Yuan, ChiFong Lam, Hong Chen, Bing Cao
Background: Obesity represents a critical global health challenge, yet the neurocognitive distinctions in processing different rewards among individuals with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) remain poorly characterized. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize functional MRI evidence to delineate common and distinct neural abnormalities during processing of food or monetary reward cues in individuals with OW/OB compared to normal-weight (NW) controls.
Methods: Searches were conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycInfo to identify eligible citations from inception until May 2025. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (No. CRD42024595608). Data analyses were carried out using the Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) algorithm. MRIcroGL was used to show the results with MNI coordinates.
Results: We systematically reviewed 26 studies with 1065 participants, comprising 6 monetary reward and 20 food reward studies. Overlapping reduced activation occurred in the left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and insula across both reward types; the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) exhibited decreased activation in response to food reward cues, while it showed increased activation in response to monetary reward cues in individuals with OW/OB. During food-reward tasks, individuals with OW/OB exhibited increased activation in the bilateral caudate nucleus, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and medial prefrontal cortex, alongside decreased activation in amygdala responses. For monetary-reward tasks, increased activation was observed in the right lateral nucleus and hypothalamus, while decreased activation was observed in the right subthalamic nucleus (STN) and posterior ventral lateral nucleus.
Conclusion: Obesity represents a critical global health challenge, yet the neurocognitive distinctions in processing different rewards among individuals with OW/OB remain poorly characterized. Our findings reveal both dissociable and overlapping neural alterations during the processing of primary (food) versus secondary (monetary) rewards in OW/OB, implicating altered reward sensitivity, decision-making, and inhibitory control. The results underscore the necessity for reward-type-specific interventions targeting these neural mechanisms to address obesity-related dysregulation. Contrasts in brain activation during food and monetary reward processing between individuals with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) and normal weight (NW).
背景:肥胖是一个重要的全球健康挑战,然而,超重/肥胖(OW/OB)个体在处理不同奖励方面的神经认知差异仍然缺乏特征。本荟萃分析旨在综合功能性MRI证据,以描述与正常体重(NW)对照相比,OW/OB个体在处理食物或金钱奖励线索时常见和独特的神经异常。方法:在Web of Science、PubMed和PsycInfo中进行检索,以确定从成立到2025年5月的合格引文。审查方案已在普洛斯彼罗(普洛斯彼罗)登记。CRD42024595608)。数据分析采用激活似然估计(ALE)算法。MRIcroGL用MNI坐标显示结果。结果:我们系统地回顾了26项涉及1065名参与者的研究,包括6项金钱奖励和20项食物奖励研究。在两种奖励类型中,左侧后扣带皮层(PCC)和脑岛的激活重叠减少;左额中回(MFG)在食物奖励提示下的激活减少,而在金钱奖励提示下的激活增加。在食物奖励任务中,OW/OB个体表现出双侧尾状核、海马、前扣带皮层(ACC)和内侧前额叶皮层的激活增加,杏仁核反应的激活减少。对于金钱奖励任务,在右侧外侧核和下丘脑观察到激活增加,而在右侧丘脑下核(STN)和后腹侧外侧核观察到激活减少。结论:肥胖是一项重要的全球健康挑战,然而,OW/OB患者在处理不同奖励方面的神经认知差异仍然缺乏特征。我们的研究结果揭示了OW/OB在处理主要(食物)和次要(金钱)奖励过程中可分离和重叠的神经改变,暗示了奖励敏感性、决策和抑制控制的改变。这些结果强调了针对这些神经机制进行奖励型特异性干预以解决肥胖相关失调的必要性。超重/肥胖个体(OW/OB)和正常体重个体(NW)在食物和金钱奖励加工过程中的脑激活对比
{"title":"Differentiating the abnormalities of food and monetary reward cue processing associated with overweight/obesity: an ALE meta-analysis.","authors":"Na Wang, Mingyue Xiao, Xiaofang Hou, Chenxuan Lu, Ruyin Yuan, ChiFong Lam, Hong Chen, Bing Cao","doi":"10.1038/s41366-026-02026-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-026-02026-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Obesity represents a critical global health challenge, yet the neurocognitive distinctions in processing different rewards among individuals with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) remain poorly characterized. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize functional MRI evidence to delineate common and distinct neural abnormalities during processing of food or monetary reward cues in individuals with OW/OB compared to normal-weight (NW) controls.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Searches were conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycInfo to identify eligible citations from inception until May 2025. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (No. CRD42024595608). Data analyses were carried out using the Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) algorithm. MRIcroGL was used to show the results with MNI coordinates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We systematically reviewed 26 studies with 1065 participants, comprising 6 monetary reward and 20 food reward studies. Overlapping reduced activation occurred in the left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and insula across both reward types; the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) exhibited decreased activation in response to food reward cues, while it showed increased activation in response to monetary reward cues in individuals with OW/OB. During food-reward tasks, individuals with OW/OB exhibited increased activation in the bilateral caudate nucleus, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and medial prefrontal cortex, alongside decreased activation in amygdala responses. For monetary-reward tasks, increased activation was observed in the right lateral nucleus and hypothalamus, while decreased activation was observed in the right subthalamic nucleus (STN) and posterior ventral lateral nucleus.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Obesity represents a critical global health challenge, yet the neurocognitive distinctions in processing different rewards among individuals with OW/OB remain poorly characterized. Our findings reveal both dissociable and overlapping neural alterations during the processing of primary (food) versus secondary (monetary) rewards in OW/OB, implicating altered reward sensitivity, decision-making, and inhibitory control. The results underscore the necessity for reward-type-specific interventions targeting these neural mechanisms to address obesity-related dysregulation. Contrasts in brain activation during food and monetary reward processing between individuals with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) and normal weight (NW).</p>","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146112757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1038/s41366-025-01990-4
A Lazzati, C Tresallet, G Guian, C Blanchard
Background: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a highly effective treatment for patients with obesity, with increasing prevalence in France. However, some patients require revisional MBS (RMBS) due to suboptimal initial response, recurrent weight gain, and correction of technique-related complications. Understanding the prevalence and risks associated with RMBS is essential for optimizing patient care.
Objective: This study aims to assess the rate of RMBS in France and to delineate the associated complications and risk factors.
Setting: France.
Methods: Using national discharge data from 2016 to 2022, this observational study compared morbidity and mortality rates between primary and RMBS. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and procedural details were analyzed. Major complications within 90 days post-surgery were assessed using logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders.
Results: Among 284,271 bariatric procedures analyzed, the revision rate was 12.8%. Patients undergoing RMBS were older, predominantly female, and had more comorbidities compared to those undergoing primary procedures. RMBS were associated with significantly higher rates of severe complications (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.49-1.68, p < 0.001), particularly after gastric bypass (GB) (OR 2.70, 95% CI 2.27-3.20). Subgroup analyses showed increased morbidity following revisional sleeve gastrectomy compared to primary procedures.
Conclusions: This study highlights a notable rate of RMBS in France, with evolving trends towards more complex revisions. RMBS are associated with increased morbidity, emphasizing the need for careful patient selection and enhanced postoperative management. Further research into surgical techniques, long-term pharmacological interventions, and surgeon expertise is warranted to optimize outcomes in this population.
背景:代谢和减肥手术(MBS)是一种非常有效的治疗肥胖患者的方法,在法国的患病率越来越高。然而,由于初始反应不佳、体重复发增加和技术相关并发症的纠正,一些患者需要修正MBS (RMBS)。了解与RMBS相关的患病率和风险对于优化患者护理至关重要。目的:本研究旨在评估法国RMBS的发生率,并描述相关并发症和危险因素。设置:法国。方法:利用2016年至2022年的全国出院数据,本观察性研究比较原发性和RMBS的发病率和死亡率。分析患者人口统计、合并症和手术细节。术后90天内的主要并发症采用经潜在混杂因素校正的逻辑回归模型进行评估。结果:在分析的284271例减肥手术中,修改率为12.8%。接受RMBS的患者年龄较大,主要是女性,与接受初级手术的患者相比,有更多的合并症。RMBS与更高的严重并发症发生率相关(OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.49-1.68, p)。结论:该研究突出了法国RMBS的显著发生率,并有向更复杂的修订发展的趋势。RMBS与发病率增加有关,强调需要仔细选择患者和加强术后管理。进一步研究手术技术,长期药物干预和外科医生的专业知识是必要的,以优化这一人群的结果。
{"title":"Investigating the trend of revisional bariatric surgery, the complications, and associated risk factors in France.","authors":"A Lazzati, C Tresallet, G Guian, C Blanchard","doi":"10.1038/s41366-025-01990-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-01990-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a highly effective treatment for patients with obesity, with increasing prevalence in France. However, some patients require revisional MBS (RMBS) due to suboptimal initial response, recurrent weight gain, and correction of technique-related complications. Understanding the prevalence and risks associated with RMBS is essential for optimizing patient care.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to assess the rate of RMBS in France and to delineate the associated complications and risk factors.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>France.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using national discharge data from 2016 to 2022, this observational study compared morbidity and mortality rates between primary and RMBS. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and procedural details were analyzed. Major complications within 90 days post-surgery were assessed using logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 284,271 bariatric procedures analyzed, the revision rate was 12.8%. Patients undergoing RMBS were older, predominantly female, and had more comorbidities compared to those undergoing primary procedures. RMBS were associated with significantly higher rates of severe complications (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.49-1.68, p < 0.001), particularly after gastric bypass (GB) (OR 2.70, 95% CI 2.27-3.20). Subgroup analyses showed increased morbidity following revisional sleeve gastrectomy compared to primary procedures.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study highlights a notable rate of RMBS in France, with evolving trends towards more complex revisions. RMBS are associated with increased morbidity, emphasizing the need for careful patient selection and enhanced postoperative management. Further research into surgical techniques, long-term pharmacological interventions, and surgeon expertise is warranted to optimize outcomes in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146105399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1038/s41366-025-01923-1
Moojun Kim, Jooyeon Lee, Taeil Yang, Jaewon Oh, Seok-Min Kang, Chan Joo Lee
Obesity is linked to adverse health effects, but paradoxically improves survival in heart failure (HF). Peak oxygen consumption (VO2), a measure of exercise capacity, is a key prognostic indicator in HF. We examined the interaction between obesity and peak VO2 in predicting survival in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We retrospectively reviewed 18,879 patients who underwent maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing using the modified Bruce ramp protocol between 2012 and 2020. The inclusion criteria were left ventricular ejection fraction <40% and body mass index (BMI) > 18.5 kg/m2. Patients were classified as those with normal weight (BMI: 18.5–22.9 kg/m2), overweight (23.0–24.9 kg/m2), or obesity (≥25.0 kg/m2) per 2020 Korean Society for the Study of Obesity guidelines. For the 819 included patients (292 with normal weight, 197 with overweight, 330 with obesity), median age was 59 (interquartile range [IQR]: 49–67) years, 75.2% were male, and the median BMI was 24.1 (IQR: 22.1–26.5) kg/m2. Patients with obesity achieved the highest workload, peak VO2, and exercise time (all P < 0.001). They also had lower all-cause mortality versus patients with normal weight (hazard ratio 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.25–0.82, P = 0.009). In patients with obesity, elevated peak VO2 was associated with a U-shaped mortality curve, unlike the linear relationship in other groups (P for interaction = 0.001). Patients with obesity and HFrEF showed better survival, consistent with the obesity paradox. However, the U-shaped relationship between peak VO2 and mortality in this group suggests the survival advantage may diminish at higher levels of exercise capacity, warranting further investigation.
{"title":"Peak oxygen consumption as a modifier of the obesity paradox in patients with obesity with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction","authors":"Moojun Kim, Jooyeon Lee, Taeil Yang, Jaewon Oh, Seok-Min Kang, Chan Joo Lee","doi":"10.1038/s41366-025-01923-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41366-025-01923-1","url":null,"abstract":"Obesity is linked to adverse health effects, but paradoxically improves survival in heart failure (HF). Peak oxygen consumption (VO2), a measure of exercise capacity, is a key prognostic indicator in HF. We examined the interaction between obesity and peak VO2 in predicting survival in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We retrospectively reviewed 18,879 patients who underwent maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing using the modified Bruce ramp protocol between 2012 and 2020. The inclusion criteria were left ventricular ejection fraction <40% and body mass index (BMI) > 18.5 kg/m2. Patients were classified as those with normal weight (BMI: 18.5–22.9 kg/m2), overweight (23.0–24.9 kg/m2), or obesity (≥25.0 kg/m2) per 2020 Korean Society for the Study of Obesity guidelines. For the 819 included patients (292 with normal weight, 197 with overweight, 330 with obesity), median age was 59 (interquartile range [IQR]: 49–67) years, 75.2% were male, and the median BMI was 24.1 (IQR: 22.1–26.5) kg/m2. Patients with obesity achieved the highest workload, peak VO2, and exercise time (all P < 0.001). They also had lower all-cause mortality versus patients with normal weight (hazard ratio 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.25–0.82, P = 0.009). In patients with obesity, elevated peak VO2 was associated with a U-shaped mortality curve, unlike the linear relationship in other groups (P for interaction = 0.001). Patients with obesity and HFrEF showed better survival, consistent with the obesity paradox. However, the U-shaped relationship between peak VO2 and mortality in this group suggests the survival advantage may diminish at higher levels of exercise capacity, warranting further investigation.","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":"50 2","pages":"338-345"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146105349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1038/s41366-025-01995-z
Charlotte R Bermingham, Daniel Ayoubkhani, Francesco Zaccardi, Karen D Coulman, Jonathan Valabhji, Kamlesh Khunti, Dimitri J Pournaras, Rita Santos, Nazrul Islam, Cameron Razieh, Ted Dolby, Vahé Nafilyan
Background/objective: There is evidence that living with obesity can affect an individual's pay and employment, but there is little evidence on the impact of weight-management interventions in improving labour market outcomes of individuals. We evaluate the impact of bariatric surgery on monthly earnings and employee status among working-age adults, and examine variations across sociodemographic characteristics.
Methods: This population-based, retrospective longitudinal cohort study for England included 40,662 individuals who had a bariatric surgery procedure and obesity diagnosis between 1 April 2014 and 31 December 2022, with no bariatric surgery history in the previous 5 years, and were 25 to 64 years old at the date of surgery. 49,921 individuals sampled from the general population who had not had bariatric surgery were also included, matched by age and sex. The main outcome measures were monthly employee pay-for all months and only months where the individual was in paid employment-expressed in 2023 prices and paid employee status.
Results: Among people living with obesity who had bariatric surgery, there was a sustained increase in monthly employee pay from 6 months after surgery with a mean increase of £84 per month (95% confidence interval [Cl]: 63-106) 5 years after surgery compared with the 6 months before surgery. There was a sustained increase in the probability of being a paid employee from 4 months after bariatric surgery, with a mean increase of 4.3 percentage points (95% Cl: 3.7-4.9) 5 years after surgery.
Conclusion: Bariatric surgery is associated with an increased probability of being employed, resulting in increased earnings. This suggests that living with obesity negatively impacts labour market outcomes and that obesity management interventions are likely to generate economic benefits both to individuals and on a macroeconomic level by increasing the likelihood of employment of people living with obesity.
{"title":"Impact of bariatric surgery on monthly earnings and employment: a national linked data study in England, 2014-2022.","authors":"Charlotte R Bermingham, Daniel Ayoubkhani, Francesco Zaccardi, Karen D Coulman, Jonathan Valabhji, Kamlesh Khunti, Dimitri J Pournaras, Rita Santos, Nazrul Islam, Cameron Razieh, Ted Dolby, Vahé Nafilyan","doi":"10.1038/s41366-025-01995-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-01995-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objective: </strong>There is evidence that living with obesity can affect an individual's pay and employment, but there is little evidence on the impact of weight-management interventions in improving labour market outcomes of individuals. We evaluate the impact of bariatric surgery on monthly earnings and employee status among working-age adults, and examine variations across sociodemographic characteristics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This population-based, retrospective longitudinal cohort study for England included 40,662 individuals who had a bariatric surgery procedure and obesity diagnosis between 1 April 2014 and 31 December 2022, with no bariatric surgery history in the previous 5 years, and were 25 to 64 years old at the date of surgery. 49,921 individuals sampled from the general population who had not had bariatric surgery were also included, matched by age and sex. The main outcome measures were monthly employee pay-for all months and only months where the individual was in paid employment-expressed in 2023 prices and paid employee status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among people living with obesity who had bariatric surgery, there was a sustained increase in monthly employee pay from 6 months after surgery with a mean increase of £84 per month (95% confidence interval [Cl]: 63-106) 5 years after surgery compared with the 6 months before surgery. There was a sustained increase in the probability of being a paid employee from 4 months after bariatric surgery, with a mean increase of 4.3 percentage points (95% Cl: 3.7-4.9) 5 years after surgery.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Bariatric surgery is associated with an increased probability of being employed, resulting in increased earnings. This suggests that living with obesity negatively impacts labour market outcomes and that obesity management interventions are likely to generate economic benefits both to individuals and on a macroeconomic level by increasing the likelihood of employment of people living with obesity.</p>","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146097128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1038/s41366-025-02016-9
Nouran Y Salah, Dina Abdel Hakam, Fatma AbdEllah Abdullah, Marwa Samir Hamza, Eman Aly Ramadan, Rana Mahmoud
Background: Glucosylsphingosine (Lyso-GL-1), a glycosphingolipid formed by glucosylceramide hydrolysis, is known to be increased in Gaucher disease. Recently, increased ceramides and sphingolipids have been implicated in obesity, insulin resistance, and atherogenesis. However, limited data exists on serum Lyso-GL-1 level in children with obesity and its relation with insulin resistance, lipid dysfunction, and atherogenesis. Hence, this study aimed to assess Lyso-GL-1 level among children with obesity and correlate it with biomarkers of insulin resistance and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP).
Methodology: Sixty children with obesity with a mean age of 10.06 years (SDS ± 2.22) and 60 age- and sex-matched normal-weighed controls were assessed for anthropometric measures, mean blood pressure percentiles, serum Lyso-GL-1, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting insulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with calculation of the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the AIP.
Results: Children with obesity have significantly higher Lyso-GL-1 and AIP than controls. Lyso-GL-1 is significantly positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) z-score, waist/hip ratio z-score, systolic and diastolic blood pressure percentiles, LDL-C, HOMA-IR, and AIP (p < 0.05), being independently correlated with systolic blood pressure percentile, LDL-C, and AIP on multivariate regression analysis.
Conclusion: Serum Lyso-GL-1 is elevated in children with obesity, being closely correlated with hypertension, insulin resistance, and atherogenesis. This could provide a mechanistic insight on the role of Lyso-GL-1 in obesity and atherogenesis. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential role of Lyso-GL-1 as a biomarker and target for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related atherogenesis and insulin resistance.
{"title":"Elevated serum glucosylsphingosine level in children with obesity: relation to plasma atherogenesis.","authors":"Nouran Y Salah, Dina Abdel Hakam, Fatma AbdEllah Abdullah, Marwa Samir Hamza, Eman Aly Ramadan, Rana Mahmoud","doi":"10.1038/s41366-025-02016-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-02016-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Glucosylsphingosine (Lyso-GL-1), a glycosphingolipid formed by glucosylceramide hydrolysis, is known to be increased in Gaucher disease. Recently, increased ceramides and sphingolipids have been implicated in obesity, insulin resistance, and atherogenesis. However, limited data exists on serum Lyso-GL-1 level in children with obesity and its relation with insulin resistance, lipid dysfunction, and atherogenesis. Hence, this study aimed to assess Lyso-GL-1 level among children with obesity and correlate it with biomarkers of insulin resistance and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP).</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Sixty children with obesity with a mean age of 10.06 years (SDS ± 2.22) and 60 age- and sex-matched normal-weighed controls were assessed for anthropometric measures, mean blood pressure percentiles, serum Lyso-GL-1, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting insulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with calculation of the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the AIP.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children with obesity have significantly higher Lyso-GL-1 and AIP than controls. Lyso-GL-1 is significantly positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) z-score, waist/hip ratio z-score, systolic and diastolic blood pressure percentiles, LDL-C, HOMA-IR, and AIP (p < 0.05), being independently correlated with systolic blood pressure percentile, LDL-C, and AIP on multivariate regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Serum Lyso-GL-1 is elevated in children with obesity, being closely correlated with hypertension, insulin resistance, and atherogenesis. This could provide a mechanistic insight on the role of Lyso-GL-1 in obesity and atherogenesis. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential role of Lyso-GL-1 as a biomarker and target for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related atherogenesis and insulin resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146018545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}