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Disease

Overweight

Late-stage therapeutic developmentActively researchedSteady momentum
28
Publications
24
Clinical trials
11
Related conditions
2
Related treatments
2025
Latest publication
Latest activity
beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this disease.

Global Effect of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Lifetime Estimates.

Research2025-03-30The New England journal of medicine

Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes.

Research2023-11-11The New England journal of medicine

Approval: Mounjaro (EMA)

Regulatory2022-09-15EMA

Approval: Wegovy (EMA)

Regulatory2022-01-06EMA

What's happening now

An analyst briefing on current research, clinical, regulatory and industry activity surrounding this disease.

Major developments
Research Highlights1View
Clinical Milestones18View all 18
+10 more in the activity timeline below
Activity timeline19

Therapeutic landscape

Therapies with a regulatory footing for this condition, alongside the wider set of agents co-studied with it in the literature.

Approved & established therapies
Semaglutideapproved

Approval — Adults Wegovy is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical… (2022)

Tirzepatideapproved

Approval — Type 2 diabetes mellitus Mounjaro is indicated for the treatment of adults with insuffici… (2022)

Liraglutideapproved

Approval — Saxenda is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activ… (2015)

Pioglitazoneapproved

Approval — Pioglitazone is indicated in the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus: as monotherapy i… (2012)

Orlistatapproved

Approval — Alli is indicated for weight loss in adults who are overweight (body mass index, BMI, 28… (2007)

Research-associated treatments

Clinical trials

10 sponsors · 3 new · 6 completed in the last 12 months (net +2)

The current development programme across all trial phases.

Clinical programme
24
All trials
6
Active
18
Late-stage
6
Completed
Late-stage studies
Recently completed

Regulatory timeline

Drug regulatory events matched to this condition by indication — EMA.

First approvals
2022emaApprovalTirzepatide· Type 2 diabetes mellitus Mounjaro is indicated for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise as monotherapy when metformin is considered inappropriate due to intolerance or contraindications in addition to other medicinal products for the treatment of diabetes. For study results with respect to combinations, effects on glycaemic control and the populations studied, see sections 4.4, 4.5 and 5.1. Weight management Mounjaro is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance, in adults with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m2 (obesity) or ≥ 27 kg/m2 to < 30 kg/m2 (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes mellitus). source ↗
2022emaApprovalSemaglutide· Adults Wegovy is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance, in adults with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2 (obesity), or ≥27 kg/m2 to <30 kg/m2 (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity e.g. dysglycaemia (prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus), hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea or cardiovascular disease. For trial results with respect to cardiovascular risk reduction and populations studied, see section 5.1. Adolescents (≥12 years) Wegovy is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adolescents ages 12 years and above with obesity* and body weight above 60 kg. Treatment with Wegovy should be discontinued and re-evaluated if adolescent patients have not reduced their BMI by at least 5% after 12 weeks on the 2.4 mg or maximum tolerated dose. *Obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile) as defined on sex- and age-specific BMI growth charts (CDC.gov) (see Table 1 in 4.1 of SmPC). Table 1 BMI cut-off points for obesity (≥95th percentile) by sex and age for paediatric patients aged 12 and older (CDC criteria) source ↗
2015emaApprovalLiraglutide· Saxenda is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adult patients with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of • ≥ 30 kg/m² (obese), or• ≥ 27 kg/m² to < 30 kg/m² (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity such as dysglycaemia (pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus), hypertension, dyslipidaemia or obstructive sleep apnoea. Treatment with Saxenda should be discontinued after 12 weeks on the 3.0 mg/day dose if patients have not lost at least 5% of their initial body weight. Adolescents (≥12 years) Saxenda can be used as an adjunct to a healthy nutrition and increased physical activity for weight management in adolescent patients from the age of 12 years and above with: obesity (BMI corresponding to ≥30 kg/m2 for adults by international cut-off points)* and body weight above 60 kg. Treatment with Saxenda should be discontinued and re-evaluated if patients have not lost at least 4% of their BMI or BMI z score after 12 weeks on the 3.0 mg/day or maximum tolerated dose. *IOTF BMI cut-off points for obesity by sex between 12-18 years, in accordance with study design of the Trial 4180, see section 5.1. Children (6 to <12 years)Saxenda is indicated as an adjunct to healthy nutrition and increased physical activity for weight management in children from the age of 6 to <12 years with - obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile)* and- body weight ≥45 kgTreatment with Saxenda should be discontinued and re-evaluated if patients have not lost at least 4% of their BMI or BMI z score after 12 weeks on the 3.0 mg/day or maximum tolerated dose. *CDC BMI cut-off points for obesity (≥95th percentile) by sex between 6 to <12 years, in accordance with study design of the Trial 4392, see section 5.1. source ↗
2012emaApprovalPioglitazone· Pioglitazone is indicated in the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus: as monotherapy in adult patients (particularly overweight patients) inadequately controlled by diet and exercise for whom metformin is inappropriate because of contraindications or intolerance. After initiation of therapy with pioglitazone, patients should be reviewed after 3 to 6 months to assess adequacy of response to treatment (e.g. reduction in HbA1c). In patients who fail to show an adequate response, pioglitazone should be discontinued. In light of potential risks with prolonged therapy, prescribers should confirm at subsequent routine reviews that the benefit of pioglitazone is maintained. source ↗
2012emaApprovalPioglitazone· Pioglitazone is indicated as second or third line treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus as described below: as monotherapy in adult patients (particularly overweight patients) inadequately controlled by diet and exercise for whom metformin is inappropriate because of contraindications or intolerance. as dual oral therapy in combination with metformin, in adult patients (particularly overweight patients) with insufficient glycaemic control despite maximal tolerated dose of monotherapy with metformin. a sulphonylurea, only in adult patients who show intolerance to metformin or for whom metformin is contraindicated, with insufficient glycaemic control despite maximal tolerated dose of monotherapy with a sulphonylurea. as triple oral therapy in combination with metformin and a sulphonylurea, in adult patients (particularly overweight patients) with insufficient glycaemic control despite dual oral therapy. Pioglitazone is also indicated for combination with insulin in type 2 diabetes mellitus adult patients with insufficient glycaemic control on insulin for whom metformin is inappropriate because of contraindications or intolerance (see section 4.4). After initiation of therapy with pioglitazone, patients should be reviewed after 3 to 6 months to assess adequacy of response to treatment (e.g. reduction in HbA1c). In patients who fail to show an adequate response, pioglitazone should be discontinued. In light of potential risks with prolonged therapy, prescribers should confirm at subsequent routine reviews that the benefit of pioglitazone is maintained (see section 4.4). source ↗
2007emaApprovalOrlistat· Alli is indicated for weight loss in adults who are overweight (body mass index, BMI, 28 kg/m2) and should be taken in conjunction with a mildly hypocaloric, lower-fat diet. source ↗
2000emaApprovalPioglitazone· Pioglitazone is indicated in the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus: as monotherapy: in patients (particularly overweight patients) inadequately controlled by diet and exercise for whom metformin is inappropriate because of contraindications or intolerance; as dual oral therapy in combination with: metformin, in patients (particularly overweight patients) with insufficient glycaemic control despite maximal tolerated dose of monotherapy with metformin; a sulphonylurea, only in patients who show intolerance to metformin or for whom metformin is contraindicated, with insufficient glycaemic control despite maximal tolerated dose of monotherapy with a sulphonylurea; as triple oral therapy in combination with: metformin and a sulphonylurea, in patients (particularly overweight patients) with insufficient glycaemic control despite dual oral therapy. Pioglitazone is also indicated for combination with insulin in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients with insufficient glycaemic control on insulin for whom metformin is inappropriate because of contraindications or intolerance. source ↗
1998emaApprovalOrlistat· Xenical is indicated in conjunction with a mildly hypocaloric diet for the treatment of obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater or equal to 30 kg/m2, or overweight patients (BMI > 28 kg/m2) with associated risk factors. Treatment with orlistat should be discontinued after 12 weeks if patients have been unable to lose at least 5% of the body weight as measured at the start of therapy. source ↗

European Medicines Agency (CC BY 4.0). Events are matched to this condition by drug indication text — approvals/updates for drugs indicated for it, not disease-specific acts.

Research activity

28 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this disease, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time
20072025
Most influential
Recent publications
Major themes8
  • Overweight9
  • Obesity8
  • Cardiovascular Diseases5
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 24
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome4
  • Insulin Resistance3
  • Anti-Obesity Agents2
  • Body Mass Index2
Leading journals6
  • The New England journal of medicine3
  • JAMA2
  • Archives of general psychiatry1
  • Circulation1
  • Clinical endocrinology1
  • Experimental gerontology1
Leading researchers8
  • Buscemi S2
  • Colhoun HM2
  • Deanfield J2
  • Emerson SS2
  • Garvey WT2
  • He J2
  • Hovingh GK2
  • Kahn SE2
Affiliations (unnormalised)6
  • University of Palermo3
  • Cleveland Clinic2
  • Pennington Biomedical Research Center2
  • Perelman School of Medicine2
  • School of Public Health2
  • "Kore" University of Enna1

Related conditions

11 matches

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.

Overview

Overweight is a body-weight status above standard ranges and is commonly defined by a body mass index of 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2. The definition notes that overweight does not necessarily mean excess body fat, because body weight can be elevated for reasons other than increased adipose tissue.

Pathophysiology

Overweight is described in relation to elevated body mass index and may or may not reflect increased adiposity. The supplied grounding does not support a more specific biological mechanism for the condition itself.

Risk factors

The grounding supports higher body mass index as the defining feature of overweight, but it does not provide specific causal risk factors. Literature in the supplied abstracts links overweight and obesity with diet, exercise, and broader metabolic context, but not as established risk factors for overweight in this grounding.

Current standard of care

Management is described at the level of lifestyle and pharmacologic weight-management approaches. The supplied reviews and guidelines mention diet therapy, exercise, and drug therapy, including anti-obesity pharmacotherapy such as semaglutide, with obesity-management guidelines serving as the standard framework for adults with overweight and obesity.

AI-generated summary grounded in MeSH and 6 peer-reviewed sources. Informational only — not medical advice. Generated 2026-07-07.

Reference

Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.

Defined in MeSH

A status with BODY WEIGHT that is above certain standards. In the scale of BODY MASS INDEX, overweight is defined as having a BMI of 25.0-29.9 kg/m2. Overweight may or may not be due to increases in body fat (ADIPOSE TISSUE), hence overweight does not equal over fat.

Identifiers
References & data sources
  • 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.