https://medicalxpress.com/endocrinology-metabolism-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Endocrinology The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (VA/DoD) updated their obesity management guideline in 2025 to reflect advances in obesity assessment and treatments. The guideline emphasizes assessing health risks beyond body mass index (BMI) alone, using comprehensive lifestyle intervention as the foundation of care, and flexibly integrating medications, including GLP-1 therapies, as well as endoscopic and surgical options when appropriate. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-obesity-guideline-personalized-effective-weight.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:00:07 EDT news706777161 To lose weight, most of us know that it is a matter of eating less and being more physically active. By putting our bodies into a calorie deficit, we "burn" more calories than we're taking in—and so we lose weight. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-fat-weight.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:40:01 EDT news706793042 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 Type 2 diabetes has traditionally been a disease that has affected mostly middle-aged and older adults. But new research from the U.S. to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy (Sept. 28–Oct. 2) shows a sharp increase in the rate of new cases of type 2 diabetes since the turn of the century, which has continued to accelerate in recent years. The study is by Dr. Tessa Crume of the Colorado School of Public Health in Aurora, Colorado, and colleagues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-youth-diabetes-cases-colorado-risen.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 18:10:01 EDT news706534501 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 A Baylor College of Medicine-led team found that moving into a normal weight range was associated with about half the risk of progressing to clinical type 1 diabetes (T1D), particularly in youth. This observational study, published in Diabetes Care, was conducted in individuals with early signs of type 1 diabetes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-healthy-weight-range-linked-diabetes.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:00:02 EDT news706445402 In people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly destroys the pancreatic beta cells responsible for producing insulin. Patients therefore require lifelong insulin therapy to regulate their blood glucose levels. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-gene-transplanted-insulin-cells.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:20:04 EDT news706367761 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 A new study shows that incorporating a genetic risk score into standard testing for a genetic form of diabetes that affects young people could identify hidden type 1 diabetes in about 1 in 5 patients with a negative genetic test. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-genetic-score-mody-referrals-hidden.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:20:03 EDT news706345202 Various forms of physical exercise may help prevent diabetes during pregnancy (or gestational diabetes), but data are limited. In a randomized clinical trial published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica including 209 pregnant women, participants who followed a strength training program from gestational weeks 12–14 until week 36 or delivery had lower rates of gestational diabetes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-strength-diabetes-pregnancy.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 03:10:01 EDT news706193545 At a Walgreens in San Francisco's bustling Japantown neighborhood, pharmacist Margaret On stocks two boxes of long-acting insulin pens from California's new prescription drug label, CalRx, emblazoned with the state's iconic grizzly bear. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-newsom-insulin-california-generic.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:40:01 EDT news706258146 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 Endocrine disruptors are compounds capable of altering the production, transport, metabolism or action of hormones. They are found in various everyday products, such as plastic containers, the inner linings of cans, food packaging, some cosmetics and synthetic fabrics, among others. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-hormonedisrupting-chemicals-everyday-products-affect.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:40:10 EDT news706272482 A simple new method based on the results of two studies from Christofer Juhlin's research group can make it easier to identify the underlying cause of a common form of high blood pressure and help predict who will benefit most from surgery. The approach has now moved from research into routine patient care at Karolinska University Hospital. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-diagnosis-primary-aldosteronism.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:40:04 EDT news706267757 A personalized approach to obesity treatment may help breast cancer survivors improve their long-term health by identifying early which patients need more than behavioral and lifestyle interventions alone, according to a Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center-led clinical trial. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-personalized-weight-loss-breast-cancer.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:20:06 EDT news706259821 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 Continuous glucose monitors have transformed life for many people with type 1 diabetes. Instead of relying on finger-prick blood tests throughout the day, users can track their blood sugar levels almost continuously. This allows them to receive alerts via a smartphone when levels become too high or too low and spot patterns that help them better manage their condition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-glucose-diabetes-dont-story.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:00:13 EDT news706189502 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 Picture a driver approaching a sharp bend on a country road. As the car turns, they move their foot to slow down. But instead of pressing the brake, they hit the accelerator. The car surges forward. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-diabetes-affect-ability.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:20:04 EDT news706175221 Personal care products are among the largest everyday sources of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and high school students who follow social media influencers or watch beauty tutorials seem to use considerably more of them, according to Rutgers researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-students-view-social-media-products.html Sun, 16 Aug 2026 21:00:01 EDT news705927901 Charlotte Touzalin was still a young teenager when she began struggling with weight gain, abnormal periods and unwanted facial hair—the same puzzling symptoms that plagued her mom for decades and that no doctor could piece together. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-obesity-drugs-early-hormonal-disorder.html Sun, 16 Aug 2026 15:06:18 EDT news706111545 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 I teach a university course called Hormones and Behaviour. What surprises students is that biological sex is not produced by a single switch. What surprises me is that many students have never been taught this before. It is basic biology, but it helps explain life. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-chromosomes-sex-hormones-body-dont.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:00:04 EDT news705918347 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