Obesity, Abdominal
Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this disease.
Metabolic syndrome: a closer look at the growing epidemic and its associated pathologies.
What's happening now
An analyst briefing on current research, clinical, regulatory and industry activity surrounding this disease.
- 6 clinical trials expected to report results, the earliest in Q2 2027.
- Q2 2027Efficacy, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Effects of Liraglutide in Children Aged 6-12 Years With Severe Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Advanced Echocardiographic Assessment
- Q4 2027A Novel Precision Medicine Approach For Obesity: A Randomized, Multi-Center Trial
- Q4 2027EVALUATING THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF MET097, A FULLY-BIASED ULTRA LONG-ACTING GLP-1RA, IN PEOPLE WITH OVERWEIGHT OR OBESITY AND TYPE 2 DIABETES: A PHASE 3, MULTI-CENTER RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL (VESPER-5)
- Q3 2028Long-term Efficacy and Safety of Cagrilintide s.c. 2.4 mg in Combination With Semaglutide s.c. 2.4 mg (CagriSema 2.4 mg/2.4 mg) Once Weekly Versus Placebo in Participants With Obesity
- Q4 2028A Phase 3b Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Different Retatrutide Dose Escalation Schemes in Participants Without Type 2 Diabetes Who Have Obesity or Overweight: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Trial
Clinical MilestonesView all 18Hide
- 2026-09-08EVALUATING THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF MET097, A FULLY-BIASED ULTRA LONG-ACTING GLP-1RA, IN PEOPLE WITH OVERWEIGHT OR OBESITY AND TYPE 2 DIABETES: A PHASE 3, MULTI-CENTER RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL (VESPER-5)Results expected Q4 2027
- 2026-07-16A Novel Precision Medicine Approach For Obesity: A Randomized, Multi-Center TrialResults expected Q4 2027
- 2026-06-09A Phase 3b Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Different Retatrutide Dose Escalation Schemes in Participants Without Type 2 Diabetes Who Have Obesity or Overweight: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind TrialResults expected Q4 2028
- 2026-06-02Weight Maintenance in Adolescents With Obesity; Long-Term Treatment With Semaglutide s.c.2.4 mg Once-weeklyResults expected Q4 2028
- 2026-05-15Efficacy, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Effects of Liraglutide in Children Aged 6-12 Years With Severe Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Advanced Echocardiographic AssessmentResults expected Q2 2027
- 2026-08-10Effect of Amino Acids on Hepatic Fat Content in Adolescents (AMINOS Study)Completed
- 2026-06-30A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial: Multiple Independent Sub-studies of Setmelanotide in Patients With POMC/PCSK1, LEPR, NCOA1(SRC1), or SH2B1 Gene Variants in the Melanocortin-4 Receptor PathwayCompleted
- 2026-06-16A Master Protocol to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of LY3437943 Once Weekly in Participants With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Who Have Obesity or Overweight: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled TrialCompleted
- 2026-06-12A Phase 3 Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of HRS-7535 Tablets in Subjects With Overweight or ObesityCompleted
- 2026-06-01Efficacy and Safety of Ixekizumab or Ixekizumab Concomitantly Administered With Tirzepatide in Adult Participants With Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis and Obesity or Overweight: A Phase 3b, Randomized, Multicenter, Open-Label Study (TOGETHER-PsO)Completed
- 2028-06-01Improving Access to Anti-Obesity Pharmacotherapy for Pediatric Obesity: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of PhentermineWithdrawn
- 2028-03-01A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Parallel-group, Active Drug and Placebo-controlled, Safety, Efficacy and Superiority of Sibutramine IR/Topiramate XR in Overweight Adults With Comorbidities/ObesityWithdrawn
- 2028-01-17A Placebo-controlled Comparability Study to Compare Two Presentations of CagriSema in Participants With Overweight or ObesityWithdrawn
- 2027-11-01Parent Toddler Obesity Study (PTOS)Withdrawn
- 2026-11-30Megestrol Acetate Versus Liraglutide Plus Megestrol Acetate in Obese Women with Endometrial Atypical Hyperplasia: a Randomized Controlled Pilot Clinical StudyWithdrawn
- 2028-06-01ClinicalImproving Access to Anti-Obesity Pharmacotherapy for Pediatric Obesity: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of PhentermineWithdrawn
- 2028-03-01ClinicalA Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Parallel-group, Active Drug and Placebo-controlled, Safety, Efficacy and Superiority of Sibutramine IR/Topiramate XR in Overweight Adults With Comorbidities/ObesityWithdrawn
- 2028-01-17ClinicalA Placebo-controlled Comparability Study to Compare Two Presentations of CagriSema in Participants With Overweight or ObesityWithdrawn
- 2027-11-01ClinicalParent Toddler Obesity Study (PTOS)Withdrawn
- 2026-11-30ClinicalMegestrol Acetate Versus Liraglutide Plus Megestrol Acetate in Obese Women with Endometrial Atypical Hyperplasia: a Randomized Controlled Pilot Clinical StudyWithdrawn
- 2026-09-08ClinicalEVALUATING THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF MET097, A FULLY-BIASED ULTRA LONG-ACTING GLP-1RA, IN PEOPLE WITH OVERWEIGHT OR OBESITY AND TYPE 2 DIABETES: A PHASE 3, MULTI-CENTER RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL (VESPER-5)Results expected Q4 2027
- 2026-08-26ClinicalPharmacological and Behavioral Treatments to Treat Loss-of-Control Eating and Improve Weight Outcomes After Bariatric Surgery: Acute (Stage 1)Results posted
- 2026-08-10ClinicalEffect of Amino Acids on Hepatic Fat Content in Adolescents (AMINOS Study)Completed
- 2026-07-16ClinicalA Novel Precision Medicine Approach For Obesity: A Randomized, Multi-Center TrialResults expected Q4 2027
- 2026-06-30ClinicalA Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial: Multiple Independent Sub-studies of Setmelanotide in Patients With POMC/PCSK1, LEPR, NCOA1(SRC1), or SH2B1 Gene Variants in the Melanocortin-4 Receptor PathwayCompleted
Clinical trials
The current development programme across all trial phases.
Evidence coverage
How much of this condition's readable clinical evidence the confidence engine has incorporated, across its most-studied treatments. This measures coverage of the evidence base — not whether any treatment works.
Largest gap: off claim endpoint family (8, endpoint-family).
Research activity
Key research shaping understanding of this disease, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.
Major themes8
- Insulin Resistance3
- Cardiovascular Diseases1
- Diet1
- Hypertension1
- Metabolic Syndrome1
- Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease1
- Obesity, Abdominal1
- Sleep Apnea, Obstructive1
Leading journals5
- Clinical and experimental hypertension (New York, N.Y. : 1993)1
- Gut1
- Nutrients1
- Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity1
- Sleep1
Leading researchers8
- Anhê FF1
- Bixler EO1
- Cai X1
- Calhoun SL1
- Desjardins Y1
- Dudonné S1
- Fernandez-Mendoza J1
- Gan P1
Affiliations (unnormalised)6
- Cardiology Axis of the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute1
- College of Medicine1
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention1
- Hypertension Center of People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region1
- Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods1
- National Institute for Nutrition and Health1
Related conditions
Diseases frequently studied alongside this one. Number shows shared papers.
Disease profile
A grounded synthesis of the condition — overview, causes, mechanism, risk factors and current standard of care.
Abdominal obesity is a condition characterized by excess fat accumulation in the abdomen. It is typically defined by increased waist circumference, with common thresholds of 40 inches or more in men and 35 inches or more in women. It is associated with increased risk of disorders including diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.
The supplied grounding supports inappropriate diet and unhealthy dietary habits as contributors to abdominal obesity. No other specific causes are supported here.
Abdominal obesity is described as central fat accumulation that is part of metabolic dysfunction. It is linked to insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension within metabolic syndrome, and it can worsen metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Inappropriate diet and unhealthy dietary habits are supported risk factors. The grounding also indicates that abdominal obesity is associated with increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and related cardiometabolic disease.
AI-generated summary grounded in MeSH and 2 peer-reviewed sources. Informational only — not medical advice. Generated 2026-07-07.
Reference
Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.
A condition of having excess fat in the abdomen. Abdominal obesity is typically defined as waist circumferences of 40 inches or more in men and 35 inches or more in women. Abdominal obesity raises the risk of developing disorders, such as DIABETES; HYPERTENSION; and METABOLIC SYNDROME.
- Disease identity & definition — NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), public domain
- Clinical trials — ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- Research activity — Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI) + OpenAlex-derived paper links
- Related entities are derived from literature co-mention (studied together) — associative, not causal.