Obesity, Morbid
Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this disease.
Multimodal Analgesia Effect on Post Surgical Patient
Post metabolic bariatric surgery weight regain: the importance of GLP-1 levels.
The effects of bariatric surgery on cardiac function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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
- Obesity, Morbid5
- Bariatric Surgery4
- Gastric Bypass1
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome1
- Glucagon-Like Peptide 11
- Metabolic Diseases1
- Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease1
- Weight Gain1
Leading journals3
- International journal of obesity (2005)2
- Obesity surgery2
- Cell reports. Medicine1
Leading researchers8
- Aarts E1
- Aggarwal R1
- Aminian A1
- Angrisani L1
- Ashrafian H1
- Baudin J1
- Beraza N1
- Borner T1
Affiliations (unnormalised)6
- Imperial College London2
- Adelaide Bariatric Centre1
- Bariatric and Metabolic Institute1
- Carolinas Medical Center1
- Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery1
- Center for the Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes1
Associated genes
Genes associated with this disease in the canonical knowledge graph (Open Targets evidence). Number shows the association score.
Disease biology
Proteins whose encoding gene is associated with this disease, reached through the canonical gene→disease graph. Number shows the gene's association score.
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.
Morbid obesity is a severe form of obesity in which body weight is two, three, or more times the ideal weight. In BMI terms, it is defined as a body mass index greater than 40.0 kg/m2. It is associated with many serious and life-threatening disorders.
The supplied literature frames morbid obesity in terms of altered metabolism and gut-brain signaling, especially around bariatric surgery. Reviews describe roles for intestinal nutrient sensing, vagal nerve-mediated satiation signals, circulating hormones such as GLP-1, and descending neural signals from the forebrain in weight regulation. Obesity is also linked to alterations in cardiac structure and haemodynamics, which can improve after bariatric surgery.
The grounding supports bariatric surgery as a standard treatment modality for severe obesity, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. Reviews also describe GLP-1 receptor agonists as a pharmacologic class used when weight is regained after bariatric surgery. The literature further notes that bariatric surgery can improve cardiac structure and function in affected patients.
AI-generated summary grounded in MeSH and 3 peer-reviewed sources. Informational only — not medical advice. Generated 2026-07-07.
Reference
Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.
The condition of weighing two, three, or more times the ideal weight, so called because it is associated with many serious and life-threatening disorders. In the BODY MASS INDEX, morbid obesity is defined as having a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2.
- 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.