https://medicalxpress.com/endocrinology-metabolism-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Endocrinology Obesity doesn't look the same at age 15 as it does at age 45, and Duke University School of Medicine researchers are learning why. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation showed teenagers retain a degree of metabolic flexibility that's largely lost in adulthood. The study suggests that the way teenage bodies respond to excess weight is fundamentally different and potentially more reversible. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-obesity-adolescence-reversible-previously-thought.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:20:09 EDT news706792201 Research published in Diabetologia by Amsterdam UMC and the University of Ghana reveals that type 2 diabetes manifests in two fundamentally different ways depending on a patient's body mass index (BMI). While type 2 diabetes in patients with a higher BMI is primarily driven by insulin resistance, the study demonstrates that in individuals within a lower BMI range, the condition is caused by the pancreas failing to produce sufficient insulin. Despite these opposing biological mechanisms, medical professionals currently treat both groups with the same medications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-size-doesnt-diabetes-differently-weight.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:01 EDT news706526221 For people living with diabetes, managing blood sugar can mean constantly watching the clock, keeping meals and medications on schedule and staying alert to changes in glucose levels. While little can be done about timed meals, researchers have developed a biological system that detects rising blood sugar levels and automatically responds by releasing medication to bring glucose back down. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-smart-probiotics-high-blood-sugar.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 13:00:04 EDT news706614080 Imagine the body's immune cells as a neighborhood cleanup crew. When all is healthy, macrophages roam tissues, clearing away cellular debris and helping maintain order. But obesity can turn these normally protective cells into drivers of chronic inflammation and metabolic disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-macrophage-molecular-scissors-obesity-linked.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 10:20:01 EDT news706201640 Over the past five years, medications called GLP-1s have revolutionized the treatment of metabolic disorders like obesity, diabetes and fatty liver disease. Sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, these drugs are highly effective at helping people lose weight and manage their blood sugar levels. However, they do come with some risks. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-weight-loss-diabetes-treatment-fat.html Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:00:09 EDT news706527422 A UIC study led by kinesiology and nutrition professor Krista Varady found that time-restricted eating may be a safe, effective tool to control blood sugar in adults with type 1 diabetes. The work is published in the journal Diabetes Care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-intermittent-fasting-diabetics-blood-sugar.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:40:03 EDT news706455025 People using weight-loss drugs are more likely to seek advice from social media than health care professionals, a Coventry University–led study has found. Researchers from the U.K. and Canada found that users of GLP-1 medications—weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro that help regulate appetite and blood sugar levels—often rely on social media, online forums, friends and family for information about the drugs. Almost half (48%) of participants said social media was a source of information, while health care professionals were consulted less frequently. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-weight-loss-drug-users-social.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:00:07 EDT news706345741 Insulin is a cornerstone of treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes, essential for lowering blood glucose levels. However, if insulin doses are not appropriately matched to the body's needs, glucose levels can fall too low, resulting in hypoglycemia, a common and potentially dangerous complication of treatment. Hypoglycemia can impair thinking and cause symptoms ranging from dizziness and confusion to loss of consciousness. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-glucose-falls-ketone-supplements-brain.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:00:02 EDT news706274701 Scientists have discovered that a key molecule released during exercise strengthens muscles, improves exercise performance and could be a potential therapeutic treatment for muscle damage caused by type 2 diabetes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-molecule-muscles-weakened-diabetes.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:00:06 EDT news706176242 Many people find themselves losing appetite—or, conversely, overeating—in difficult situations, and these common reactions to stress suggest that the mind and metabolism are deeply connected. A new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science reveals a previously unknown biological link between mental and physiological stress responses: They are orchestrated by a single "mastermind" gene, a kind of master switch that is active in the brain even before birth. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-brain-wiring-stress-metabolism-mastermind.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:00:09 EDT news706190641 Traditionally, obesity has been classified primarily using BMI, a measure of weight relative to height that provides limited information about whether excess fat is actually affecting a person's health. BMI levels have historically played a central role in determining eligibility and priority for metabolic bariatric surgery—operations on the stomach that help people lose weight and treat health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-obesity-definitions-reveal-ill-health.html Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:20:01 EDT news705918615 Measuring waist size may be one of the simplest and most effective ways to detect obesity-related health risks, according to a study by Rutgers Health researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-waist-size-powerful-indicator-health.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:20:02 EDT news705933541 GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual agonists have transformed the treatment of obesity and other metabolic diseases, and a new editorial co-authored by Dr. Steven Heymsfield of LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Dr. Adam Gilden of the University of Colorado examines what scientists are learning as these medications reach millions of people. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-unanticipated-benefits-glp-medications.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:20:01 EDT news705935134 Outfitting cells in "invisibility cloaks" may offer an easier, less damaging treatment pathway for people with diabetes undergoing cell therapy, according to researchers at Penn State. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-cell-invisibility-cloaks-side-effect.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:00:02 EDT news705833941 An international research team coordinated by the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) has created the most comprehensive single-cell atlas of the human pancreas to date. As part of a Human Cell Atlas project led by Professor Roland Eils, the team analyzed more than 4 million cells and cell nuclei from pancreatic tissue samples donated by 57 individuals. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-cell-atlas-reveals-plasticity-human.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:40:05 EDT news705843403 Coffee is one of the world's most widely consumed beverages, and previous research has linked its consumption to a lower risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the biological mechanisms behind these benefits remain unclear. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-coffee-consumption-linked-leaner-body.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:00:01 EDT news705833641 What if one of the keys to a healthier metabolism is understanding how and when the liver communicates with the rest of the body? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-liver-boost-fat-breakdown-potential.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:20:02 EDT news705769741 Long-term diabetes management requires continuous blood glucose monitoring to detect abnormalities early and intervene in time. However, conventional fingertip blood sampling is both painful and inconvenient, while most continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) products currently available on the market rely on biological enzymes—requiring regular replacement, incurring higher costs and demanding stringent storage conditions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-wearable-microneedle-patch-empowers-conventional.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:00:03 EDT news705667861 The thyroid gland consists of two types of hormone-producing cells that regulate the body's metabolism and calcium balance. In mammals, these cell types merge into a single organ, whereas in other vertebrates, they develop into separate organs. How this fusion occurs has long remained unclear, even though developmental defects can lead to congenital abnormalities of the thyroid gland. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-thyroid-hormone-cell-merging.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:40:05 EDT news705667741