Obesity arises from a mix of genetic, environmental and energy-balance factors, review finds

Health · Published 1 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: A review of obesity research describes it as a multifactorial disease driven largely by a long-run mismatch between the energy people take in through food and the energy their bodies use. The authors note that higher body mass index is linked to a higher risk of conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disorders, and that obesity rates continue to rise worldwide.

The review traces obesity's causes across genetic, epigenetic, social and environmental influences, and discusses possible strategies for lowering BMI. Because raised BMI is associated with lower quality of life and life expectancy, understanding these many contributing factors is seen as important for designing treatments.

This is a narrative review summarizing existing studies rather than a new clinical trial, so it doesn't provide fresh experimental evidence testing any single treatment.

Why it matters: Obesity has many interacting causes, from genes to environment, which may explain why single interventions often struggle to address it fully.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Small weight losses can trigger significant improvements in long-term health
• Obesity and type 2 diabetes share overlapping biology and treatments
• Obesity is not just about willpower; it is a disease of the brain
• The hidden biological and social drivers of childhood obesity
• Over one billion people lived with obesity in 2022
• Public perception of e-cigarettes often overlooks their potential to help adults quit smoking
• Limited health literacy is linked to frequent hospitalizations and lower vaccination rates
• Researchers synthesize diverse definitions to create a unified model of health literacy
• Healthcare service use dropped by a third during the COVID-19 pandemic
• US overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids rose over tenfold in six years
• Global rates of insufficient physical activity have risen steadily since 2000
• Ubiquitous phthalates are common chemicals humans encounter through multiple daily exposure routes

More in Public health · More in Health · Latest · A–Z · All topics