World Obesity Federation Research Articles

The role of gut microbiota in the obesity: a literature review

Introduction: Obesity is a multifactorial and polygenic condition that, according to the World Obesity Federation, will affect over 1 billion people by 2030. In this regard, research is being conducted regarding gut microbiota influence on the pathogenesis of this disease, such as inflammation and insulin resistance. Therefore, understanding the gut microbiota and the mechanism by which its modulation through diet and/or the use of probiotics can impact the host and contribute to the treatment of obesity is essential. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on the PubMed, Scielo, and ScienceDirect databases, following the PRISMA protocol, from January 2018 to September 2022. Results and Conclusion: 415 articles were found. 36 studies were evaluated, and 20 were included in this review. The use of calorierestricting diets, along with the consumption of grains and cereals, was found to be useful in reducing strains that promote inflammation and insulin resistance, factors that are associated with obesity pathogenesis, leading to weight reduction. Other studies examined probiotics use, which led to lipopolysaccharides and insulin resistance reduction, as well as a decrease in the quantity of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, combining diets with probiotic therapies may be a strategy for microbiota modulation, aiming to reduce inflammatory markers and insulin resistance.

Determinants of central obesity in children and adolescents and associated complications in South Africa: a systematic review.

Central obesity in children is a global health concern associated with cardiovascular risk factors. In 2019 the World Obesity Federation predicted that in 2025, 206 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 will be obese, and the number is estimated to reach 254 million by 2030. There is limited literature on the factors that are associated with the development of central obesity in children. We report a systematic review, aimed to describe the current literature on determinants of central obesity and its associated health outcomes in children and adolescents in the South African population. We searched for peer-reviewed studies in Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct search engines, and about seven studies were included. This systematic review has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (Registration number: CRD42023457012). This systematic review was conducted and reported according to an updated version of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. The quality of the included studies was assessed by following guidelines from the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The method considered three main domains: selection, comparability, and outcome across different study designs. The prevalence of central obesity in children and adolescents by waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) ranged from 2.0 to 41.0%; waist-to-hip [WHR ranged from 10 to 25%; waist circumference (WC) ranged from 9 to 35%]. Central obesity was associated with age, physical inactivity, gender socio, and demographic profiles of the household. Central obesity in children was associated with cardiovascular diseases and mental health issues. Central obesity in children and adolescents was determined by gender, pubertal development, and age of the parents, households with high socioeconomic status, dietary practices, and overweight/obesity. Given the high prevalence of central obesity in children which can ultimately result in cardiometabolic diseases, cardiovascular risk factors, and mental health issues. This highlights the need for systems, jointly initiated by healthcare providers, policymakers, and the general society aimed at reducing the burden of central obesity such as introducing children and adolescents to health-promoting lifestyles.

Influence of Adipokines on Metabolic Dysfunction and Aging.

Currently, 30% of the global population is overweight or obese, with projections from the World Obesity Federation suggesting that this figure will surpass 50% by 2035. Adipose tissue dysfunction, a primary characteristic of obesity, is closely associated with an increased risk of metabolic abnormalities, such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia, collectively termed metabolic syndrome. In particular, visceral fat accretion is considered as a hallmark of aging and is strongly linked to higher mortality rates in humans. Adipokines, bioactive peptides secreted by adipose tissue, play crucial roles in regulating appetite, satiety, adiposity, and metabolic balance, thereby rendering them key players in alleviating metabolic diseases and potentially extending health span. In this review, we elucidated the role of adipokines in the development of obesity and related metabolic disorders while also exploring the potential of certain adipokines as candidates for longevity interventions.

A computer-assisted analysis of image representations of obesity: comparing UK news content with the World Obesity Federation Image Bank

Visual representations in news media contribute to the social construction of health concerns such as obesity. Media representations of obesity, however, have been shown to be stigmatizing, focusing on disembodied abdomens or depicting people in ill-fitting clothing, for example. In addition, analyses of image representations have typically focused on small datasets and relied upon inductive thematic coding. This article presents the application of Google Cloud Vision – an automated image annotation tool – to a collection of images collected from articles on obesity in the UK press. In addition, the World Obesity Federation (WOF) has produced an image bank designed to support journalists in offering respectable depictions of people with obesity, alongside its general guidelines for media representations. The authors compare the images from the news with the WOF Image Bank, on the basis of the tags generated by Google Cloud Vision. They use corpus methods to highlight frequently occurring tags that demonstrate similarities and differences between what is represented in the news and what is provided by the WOF. They observe only minimal consistencies between the datasets in that, while both image collections often depict people with obesity in relation to food, the WOF Image Bank provides a greater variety of activities that include food purchase and preparation. In the news, the analysis finds a greater occurrence of ‘body positive’ representations but also a continuation of the focus on abdomens and pinched skin. In the WOF Image Bank, the authors observe more ‘body neutral’ representations, with people engaged in a greater range of recreational activities and socializing with others. The article reflects on the utility of Vision as an automatic tool for capturing salient elements of visual representations in images.

Influence of the initial state of the subcutaneous cell in overweight and obesity patients on the development of complications in the postoperative period

The World Obesity Federation published an atlas in 2023, which reports that if the current trend continues, in 2035 every second person in the World will be overweight or obese. Often, overweight or obese patients turn to a plastic surgeon for help, as the “easiest way” to solve this problem. Nevertheless, the initial state of the patient's health is fundamental to obtain a satisfying result for both the surgeon and the patient of the aesthetic intervention. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the pathomorphological processes occurring in the body of patients with overweight or obesity is necessary, which determines the relevance of this study.Purpose of the study: to study the morphological picture of the subcutaneous tissue in patients with overweight or obesity.Material and methods. A morphological and immunohistochemical assessment of the state of the subcutaneous tissue was carried out in 49 overweight women who, in the period from 2019 to 2020, underwent planned surgical interventions for aesthetic indications aimed at correcting body contours. After the operation, women were observed for 6 months, assessing the timing of wound healing, as well as the presence or absence of seromas, ligature fistulas, and wound infection. We carried out a comparative analysis of the morphological picture of the subcutaneous tissue in different course of the wound process, studied the prognostic significance of the identified subcutaneous tissue morphotypes in relation to the risk of delayed and complicated wound healing.Results. Histological examination revealed two morphological types of subcutaneous adipose tissue structure: adipocyte and adipocyte-fibrous. The adipocyte type of structure of the subcutaneous adipose tissue is represented by the adipose tissue itself from typical mature adipocytes with interadipocyte small capillaries, which has a lobular structure with thin layers of interlobular connective tissue. This morphological type of structure was observed mainly in the group with a standard postoperative period. The mixed adipocyte-fibrous type of subcutaneous adipose tissue structure was characterized by a different ratio of two tissue components - fatty and fibrous. This morphological type of structure is typical for a group of patients with a delayed and complicated wound process in the postoperative period. The established changes in the histological structure, cell infiltration with an increase in the number of CD68+ positive macrophages and HLA-DR+ positive immune cells, perivascular CD20+ B-lymphocytes in the subcutaneous fat indicates that patients with a complicated healing process have already been admitted to the clinic in a state of local chronic inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue.Conclusion. The morphological changes in the subcutaneous tissue revealed during our study can partially explain the prolongation of the wound process and the development of complications in the postoperative period in overweight and obese patients. However, in order to create a routine algorithm for the preoperative identification of patients at risk, it is necessary to identify correlations between biochemical changes in the blood and the development of changes in the subcutaneous tissue.

Overweight during development dysregulates cellular metabolism and critical genes that control food intake in the prefrontal cortex

Backgrounds and aimsChildhood obesity is increasing substantially across the world. The World Obesity Federation (WOF) and World Health Organization (WHO) predicted that in 2030 > 1 billion people will be obese, and by 2035 over 4 billion will reach obesity worldwide. According to WHO, the world soon cannot afford the economic cost of obesity, and we need to act to stop obesity acceleration now. Data in the literature supports that the first 1000 days of life are essential in preventing obesity and related adversities. Therefore, using basic research, the present a study that focuses on the immediate effect of overnutrition and serotonin modulation during the lactation period. MethodsUsing a neonatal overfeeding model, male Wistar rats were divided into four groups based on nutrition or serotonin modulation by pharmacological treatment up to 22 days of life. Cellular and mitochondrial function markers, oxidative stress biomarkers and mRNA levels of hedonic and homeostatic genes were evaluated. ResultsOur data showed that overfeeding during lactation decrease NAD/NADH ratio, citrate synthase activity, and increase ROS production. Lipid and protein oxidation were increased in overfed animals, with a decrease in antioxidant defenses, we also observe a differential expression of mRNA levels of homeostatic and hedonic genes. On the contrary, serotonin modulation with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors treatment reduces harmful effects caused by overnutrition. ConclusionEarly effects of overnutrition significantly affect the prefrontal cortex at molecular and cellular level, which could mediate obesity-related neurodegenerative dysfunction.

Changing the global obesity narrative to recognize and reduce weight stigma: A position statement from the World Obesity Federation.

Weight stigma, defined as pervasive misconceptions and stereotypes associated with higher body weight, is both a social determinant of health and a human rights issue. It is imperative to consider how weight stigma may be impeding health promotion efforts on a global scale. The World Obesity Federation (WOF) convened a global working group of practitioners, researchers, policymakers, youth advocates, and individuals with lived experience of obesity to consider the ways that global obesity narratives may contribute to weight stigma. Specifically, the working group focused on how overall obesity narratives, food and physical activity narratives, and scientific and public-facing language may contribute to weight stigma. The impact of weight stigma across the lifespan was also considered. Taking a global perspective, nine recommendations resulted from this work for global health research and health promotion efforts that can help to reduce harmful obesity narratives, both inside and outside health contexts.

The Therapeutic Aspects of Obesity

The prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide, reaching pandemic levels. More than half of the world’s population will be overweight or obese by 2035 without significant action, according to a report of the World Obesity Federation’s. The World Health Organization defines overweight as body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2 and obesity >30 kg/m2 and describes these conditions as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that is associated with increased health risk. Epidemiologic studies have revealed an association between high BMI and an extensive range of chronic diseases such as non alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, several malignancies, musculoskeletal diseases, chronic kidney disease, and mental disorders, which consequently, affect negatively subjects’ quality of life and raise healthcare costs. Obesity as a chronic and progressive lifelong disease requires an active approach to treatment. For obese persons, it is recommended that a diet with an energy deficit of 500 kcal/day and a low energy density should be instituted for the purpose of weight loss and stabilization of a lower weight. More physical exercise in everyday life promotes weight loss and improves risk factors and obesity-associated diseases. Behavior modification and behavioral therapy support changes in nutrition and exercise in everyday life. Pharmacotherapy for obesity can be considered if patients have a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater or BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater with weight-related comorbidities. The choice of the anti-obesity medication needs to take into consideration the patient’s clinical and biochemical profile, co-morbidities, and drug contra-indications, as well as expected degree of weight loss and improvements in cardio-renal and metabolic risk. Successful therapy for obesity depends on tailoring treatment to patients’ behaviors and comorbidities and monitoring of efficacy, safety, and tolerability.

The evolution of body composition assessment: from body mass index to body composition profiling

Obesity is currently an important medical and social problem due to the multiple associated conditions that worsen the health of the population. Thus, there is a need for the development of accurate and non-invasive methods of body composition assessment for the purposes of diagnosing and monitoring the treatment of this disease. According to the estimates of the World Obesity Federation, by 2025 the prevalence of this disease will reach 21% in women, and 18% in men. This literature review is dedicated to the subject of various methods for assessing the degree of obesity, as well as determining the composition of the body in the context of historical achievements and a critical assessment of new technologies.

Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission on the Definition and Diagnosis of Clinical Obesity

Obesity was first recognised as a disease by WHO in 1948, then between 2013 and 2022 by several medical societies and countries. 1 WHO ConsultationAppropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. Lancet. 2004; 363: 157-163 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8005) Google Scholar , 2 Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO consultation. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2000; 894: 1-253 Google Scholar , 3 Carruba MO Busetto L Bryant S et al. The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) endorses the milan charter on urban obesity. Obes Facts. 2021; 14: 163-168 Crossref PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar , 4 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric SurgeryConsensus statement on obesity as a disease. https://asmbs.org/resources/consensus-statement-on-obesity-as-a-diseaseDate: 2022 Date accessed: February 20, 2023 Google Scholar , 5 Bray GA Kim KK Wilding JPH World Obesity FObesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. Obes Rev. 2017; 18: 715-723 Crossref PubMed Scopus (577) Google Scholar , 6 Jastreboff AM Kotz CM Kahan S Kelly AS Heymsfield SB Obesity as a disease: the Obesity Society 2018 position statement. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2019; 27: 7-9 Crossref PubMed Scopus (152) Google Scholar , 7 Pollack A NY TimesA.M.A. recognizes obesity as a disease. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/business/ama-recognizes-obesity-as-a-disease.htmlDate: 2013 Date accessed: February 26, 2023 Google Scholar , 8 Mechanick JI Garber AJ Handelsman Y et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists' position statement on obesity and obesity medicine. Endocr Pract. 2012; 18: 642-648 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (92) Google Scholar However, the notion that obesity is a disease and not merely a risk factor for other illnesses remains highly controversial, both within and beyond medical circles. This debate constitutes far more than arcane semantics, and seriously affects the provision of therapeutic strategies to improve health among people living with obesity.

The global agenda on obesity: what does this mean for Singapore?

The global agenda on obesity: what does this mean for Singapore?

Diagnosis and Management of Obesity: A Joint Statement by Practicing Endocrinologists

Obesity is not always recognized as a primary disease, leading to shortage of insurance coverage, clear dispositions about therapeutic strategies, prevention programs and legislation. Worldwide, physicians face the challenge to design affordable and effective treatments against obesity, to improve patient health and wellbeing and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. While international guidelines for obesity management are available, straightforward recommendations applicable in developing countries are needed. In order to develop local consensus recommendations, a panel of endocrinologists with experience in overweight and obesity convened and provided opinions about obesity aetiology, diagnosis, and management, in a structured discussion. Opinions were then developed into recommendations. There was unanimous agreement on recognizing obesity as a disease, which could be diagnosed by any trained physician and best managed by endocrinologists or obesity-trained physicians. The panel reiterated that lifestyle and behaviour changes remain the cornerstone of treatment; underscoring, however, the need for pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery in some cases. They also identified stakeholders in the fight against obesity (ministries, third-party payers, healthcare providers and others). The establishment of an obesity registry was encouraged, which will pave the way for enhanced obesity research and prevention programs. These recommendations, endorsed by the World Obesity Federation, would be of interest to clinicians worldwide.

Bridging the Gap: A Qualitative Analysis of Online Public Forum with Healthcare Professionals in Bursting Myths About Weight Management

Background Obesity has increased rapidly worldwide in last few decades. According to World Obesity Federation 2018, the prevalence of obesity in UAE amongst Emirati aged 18-69 years has been reported as 32.2% vs 38.5% living with obesity vs overweight in men and 41.8% vs 29.3% living with obesity vs overweight in women. There are many myths amongst general public about obesity. Aim The objective of the study was to address public questions through online forum regarding weight management. Methods In this cross-sectional observational study qualitative analysis was done. It was conducted quarterly at Mediclinic City and Parkview Hospital in Dubai from August 2020-September 2021. An online zoom meeting was made available to the public. People who wanted to attend the session registered via dedicated email address. A certified dietician, endocrinologist and bariatric surgeon were available to answer people’s questions. Results 6 online forums have been conducted. 163 (range 10-90) people attended. Three themes were constructed during data analysis. 1- Diet: what’s the best diet and about caloric intake. 2- Insulin resistance or hormone imbalance is responsible for weight gain. 3- Misinformation and unrealistic expectations about bariatric surgery. Feedback from audience was ‘it was interactive, fun and informative session’. Conclusions Our results show that patients need support throughout their weight management journey. Healthcare professionals need to be more aware of patient’s perceptions about weight management so that they can be addressed in consultations. We need more online support sessions facilitated by healthcare professionals.

Endocrine disruptor chemicals as obesogen and diabetogen: Clinical and mechanistic evidence.

Obesity is becoming an inevitable pandemic all over the world. The World Obesity Federation predicts in the 2022 World Obesity Atlas that one billion people worldwide, including 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men, will be living with obesity by 2030. Moreover, the prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide, and diabetes is becoming more of a public health problem. Increased insulin resistance due to obesity and deficiency in insulin secretion are the two main causes of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). An exogenous chemical or mixture of chemicals that interferes with any aspect of hormone action was defined as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Bisphenol A (BPA), the first known EDC, was synthesized and was considered to be estrogenic. Global production of BPA has increased progressively from 5 to 8 million tons (MT) between 2010 and 2016. Furthermore, researchers estimated that the production should reach 10.2 MT by 2022. The human population is exposed to EDCs in daily life in such forms as pesticides/herbicides, industrial and household products, plastics, detergents, and personal care products. The term obesogen was used for chemicals that promote weight gain and obesity by increasing the number of adipocytes and fat storage in existing adipocytes, changing the energy balance, and finally regulating appetite and satiety. Besides the obesogenic effect, EDCs can cause T2DM through alteration in ß cell function and morphology and insulin resistance. In this review, we provide clinical and mechanistic evidence regarding EDCs as obesogen and diabetogen. However, those studies are not enough methodologically to indicate causality. In this respect, randomized clinical trials are needed to investigate the association between obesogen, diabetogen and the related metabolic clinical picture.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease: mechanistic insights and management strategies. A joint position paper by the World Heart Federation and World Obesity Federation.

The ongoing obesity epidemic represents a global public health crisis that contributes to poor health outcomes, reduced quality of life, and >2.8 million deaths each year. Obesity is relapsing, progressive, and heterogeneous. It is considered a chronic disease by the World Obesity Federation (WOF) and a chronic condition by the World Heart Federation (WHF). People living with overweight/obesity are at greater risk for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Increased adiposity (body fat), particularly visceral/abdominal fat, is linked to CV risk and CV disease (CVD) via multiple direct and indirect pathophysiological mechanisms. The development of CVD is driven, in part, by obesity-related metabolic, endocrinologic, immunologic, structural, humoral, haemodynamic, and functional alterations. The complex multifaceted nature of these mechanisms can be challenging to understand and address in clinical practice. People living with obesity and CVD often have concurrent chronic physical or psychological disorders (multimorbidity) requiring multidisciplinary care pathways and polypharmacy. Evidence indicates that intentional weight loss (particularly when substantial) lowers CVD risk among people with overweight/obesity. Long-term weight loss and maintenance require ongoing commitment from both the individual and those responsible for their care. This position paper, developed by the WOF and the WHF, aims to improve understanding of the direct and indirect links between overweight/obesity and CVD, the key controversies in this area and evidence relating to cardiometabolic outcomes with available weight management options. Finally, an action plan for clinicians provides recommendations to help in identifying and addressing the risks of obesity-related CVD (recognizing resource and support variances between countries).

Obesity intervention efforts in China and the 2022 World Obesity Day

Obesity has become a serious public health problem globally. China has the world's largest number of people with obesity or overweight. More than 50% of adults and about 20% of children and adolescents in China are overweight or obese. Over the past 20 years, China has made many efforts in obesity intervention, while obesity rates continued rising. In recent years, China has taken more actions for obesity prevention. The World Obesity Day (WOD) was established in 2015 by the World Obesity Federation, and is a unified day of action calling for a cohesive, cross-sector response to fight obesity. WOD has drawn increasing attention in recent years. China formally joined the WOD activities this year, promoted by The Obesity Prevention and Control Section of Chinese Nutrition Society, which cooperated closely with other organizations in carrying out a series of activities during the 2022 WOD. These efforts aimed to encourage the whole society to pay attention to the obesity problem and take more practical actions. The activities include: (1) The 2022 “World Obesity Day” China Summit; (2) a specifically developed WOD obesity prevention education video; and (3) the launch of The Expert Consensus on Obesity Prevention and Treatment in China. These can serve as examples for other organizations and countries to consider in future intervention efforts. To fight the global obesity epidemic, all counties and people need to act. Countries can learn from each other's successful practices.

Obesity and covid-19 — signs of convergence of two pandemiсs. Guidelines to fight obesity based on the principles of «ROOTS»

The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenging problem of the present. Another essential problem causing serious health consequences is the global obesity epidemy. Our article notes the importance of studying the combinations and correlations of mentioned pandemic processes. We analyzed scientific reports of co-presence of obesity, diabetes and coronavirus infection. According to the analyzed data combination of COVID-19 with obesity and diabetes leads to the higher rate of the hospitalisation. These patients more often required the transfer to the intensive care unit and artificial lung ventilation. Our review contains scientific observations of the first reported cases of higher mortality rate of obese and diabetic patients during the period of previous influenza pandemics (including H1N1). The results of the 2020 year shows that the outcomes of coronavirus infection with underlying obesity much more threatening and harmfull. In our article, we present the correlation of the average body mass and mortality rate index in different countries (according to the WHO and the World Obesity Federation). Comparative results in the Central Asia countries are given as well. The paper analyzes the suggestions for obesity policy and advocacy provided by World Obesity Federation in “ROOTS: A framework for action”. The conclusions marks the importance of implementing the proposed measures against obesity during a pandemic and in the post-COVID era.

Childhood Obesity: Still a Major Concern

Overweight and obesity are defined as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health”.1 The prevalence of obesity is increasing every year and has nearly tripled since 1975. More than 19 billon adults in 2016 and about 89 million children under the age 5 years are obese in 2020.2 World Obesity Federation estimates suggest that about 250 million children ageing between 5 and 19 years old will be obese by 2030. Reports also predict that the population of obese children (5 and 19 years) are expected to rise to 62 million in China, 27 million in India, 17 million in the USA, 1.8 million in Malaysia, 1.3 million in the UK and 0.08 million in Singapore by 2030.3 The complete data on ‘Childhood Obesity’ is available in ‘Atlas of Childhood Obesity [2019 edition]’ published by the World Obesity Federation, London. Again, the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly affected children’s daily lives, reduced their physical activity, increased their stress levels and had contributed to such a high incidence of childhood obesity.4,5 Woolford et al., assessed the changes in body-mass index (increased) among children during COVID- 19 restrictions and reported an increase in pediatric obesity during the aforesaid period.6

Obesity, SDGs and ROOTS: a Framework for Impact.

Purpose of ReviewThis paper demonstrates how addressing obesity is vital to achieving several of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, especially target 3.4 on reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.Recent FindingsRecent research by the UN notes that countries are not on schedule to achieve the SDGs. It is noted that obesity, neglected in earlier development goals and overlooked by global health funders and policymakers, is playing a role in major health and development issues. As such, the ROOTS framework developed by the World Obesity Federation offers a roadmap towards attaining several of the goals and targets.SummaryBy making these connections, this paper shows that obesity is a relevant and essential component of the global development agenda and must be prioritised to successfully achieve targets related to NCD mortality.

Diffusion of scientific concepts on obesity in the global context: a historical review

ABSTRACT This article aimed to carry out a historical analysis of the dissemination of the scientific concepts on obesity, overweight and excess weight in the field of nutritional epidemiology in the world. The methodological procedures comprised: (1) Systematic search in the PubMed® database using single keywords and without date filter; (2) Documentary analysis of normative instruments on the websites of the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Obesity Federation; and (3) Analysis of the scientific production of scientists participating in the obesity classification of the International Obesity Task Force. The historical analysis showed that, considering the volume of publications on obesity, it appears that in the 1940-1949 decade the problem of obesity emerged on the world scenario. From the number of publications issued in the last 20 years, which corresponds to 85% of the investigated period, we can deduct that scientists’ concern to investigate the subject as a phenomenon coincides with the World Health Organization declaration of obesity as a global epidemic issued in the year 2000. In accordance with normative procedures established by international organizations, there has been a hegemonic use of the concepts of obesity and overweight, in this order of priority, by scientists worldwide. The concept of excess weight has experienced a relative rise since the year 2000, but its use has been very restricted, expressing dissonance in face of the recommendations of international standardization organizations, a fact that suggests discussion and review of its use by the world scientific community.