Obesity in the 21st Century: Where Do We Stand?
9 affiliations
- 1The 6th Surgical Department, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tabacarilor 9-11, 400139 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 2Department of Nanosciences, MEDFUTURE—Institute for Biomedical Research, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur 4-6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 3Department of Pharmaceutical Physics & Biophysics, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 4Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology, Dental Medicine Faculty, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cardinal Iuliu Hossu 37, 400029 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 5Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Dental Materials, Division Dental Propaedeutics, Aesthetics, Dental Medicine Faculty, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Clinicilor 32, 400001 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 6Faculty of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, Mihail Kogălniceanu 1, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 7General Medicine Faculty, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Victor Babes 8, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 8Department of Surgery, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Clinicilor 3-5, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- 9Nanotechnology Laboratory, TRANSCEND Research Center, Regional Institute of Oncology, General Henri Mathias Berthelot 2-4, 700483 Iaşi, Romania
Abstract
Obesity in the 21st century has become a global epidemic owing to its heterogeneous aetiology and clinical presentation, as well as the development of associated comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, type2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, and obesity-related cancers. Notably, cardiovascular disease and diabetes are major contributors to obesity-associated morbidity and mortality. Current diagnostic approaches rely predominantly on anthropometric measurements, which have proven limited in their ability to provide accurate and clinically meaningful stratification of patients with obesity. Consequently, obesity treatments, including metabolic surgery and pharmacological therapies, remain insufficiently tailored to the wide variability in obesity-related genotypes, phenotypes, and endotypes. In this context, a personalised medical approach offers considerable promise. A clear overview of currently effective diagnostic tools and treatments, as well as future possibilities, is therefore needed. Recent developments in precision medicine, multi-omics, biomarkers, and advanced diagnostic technologies may facilitate improved patient stratification and support more individualized therapeutic strategies. Together, these approaches may contribute to a more comprehensive, evidence-based, and patient-centered framework for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of obesity and its complications.
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BibTeX
@article{modog2026obesity,
title = {{Obesity in the 21st Century: Where Do We Stand?}},
author = {Andrei Modog and Anca Onaciu and Rareș-Mario Borșa and Valentin Toma and Gabriela-Fabiola Știufiuc and Paula Matei and Louise Tedeschi and Cristian Bibu and David Andras and Călin Ionescu and Rareș-Ionuț Știufiuc and Răzvan Scurtu},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15208080},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/8080},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Obesity in the 21st Century: Where Do We Stand?
AU - Andrei Modog
AU - Anca Onaciu
AU - Rareș-Mario Borșa
AU - Valentin Toma
AU - Gabriela-Fabiola Știufiuc
AU - Paula Matei
AU - Louise Tedeschi
AU - Cristian Bibu
AU - David Andras
AU - Călin Ionescu
AU - Rareș-Ionuț Știufiuc
AU - Răzvan Scurtu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15208080
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/8080
AB - Obesity in the 21st century has become a global epidemic owing to its heterogeneous aetiology and clinical presentation, as well as the development of associated comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, type2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, and obesity-related cancers. Notably, cardiovascular disease and diabetes are major contributors to obesity-associated morbidity and mortality. Current diagnostic approaches rely predominantly on anthropometric measurements, which have proven limited in their ability to provide accurate and clinically meaningful stratification of patients with obesity. Consequently, obesity treatments, including metabolic surgery and pharmacological therapies, remain insufficiently tailored to the wide variability in obesity-related genotypes, phenotypes, and endotypes. In this context, a personalised medical approach offers considerable promise. A clear overview of currently effective diagnostic tools and treatments, as well as future possibilities, is therefore needed. Recent developments in precision medicine, multi-omics, biomarkers, and advanced diagnostic technologies may facilitate improved patient stratification and support more individualized therapeutic strategies. Together, these approaches may contribute to a more comprehensive, evidence-based, and patient-centered framework for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of obesity and its complications.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -