Clinical evaluation and treatment of obesity in women across selected life stages: a narrative review.

Invited narrative review synthesizing evidence on obesity evaluation and treatment in women across selected life stages.

“For this invited narrative review, targeted searches of PubMed and guideline and regulatory sources available through July 2026 identified current diagnostic and staging frameworks, Korean and international guidance, pharmacotherapy evidence, official prescribing information, and literature on reproductive and menopausal physiology for synthesis.”

Women across reproductive years, pregnancy and lactation, and the menopausal transition.

“The review is therefore limited to selected reproductive-to-menopausal contexts; adolescent obesity and geriatric obesity in later life require separate, age-specific consideration and are not comprehensively covered here.”

Literature search covered sources available through July 2026.

“Targeted searches of PubMed, major clinical practice guidelines, and official prescribing information available through July 2026 were used to identify relevant literature.”

The Lancet criteria, Edmonton Obesity Staging System, and four-domain assessment offer complementary methods to confirm adiposity, diagnose illness, and stage severity beyond BMI.

“The Lancet criteria for clinical obesity, the Edmonton Obesity Staging System, and a four-domain assessment of mechanical, metabolic, mental, and social milieu factors offer complementary ways to confirm adiposity, diagnose illness, stage severity, and assess health beyond body mass index.”

Phenotype-guided matching for medication selection remains investigational and is not yet established as standard care.

“Medication selection should be based primarily on approved indications, efficacy, safety, comorbidities, reproductive plans, access, and patient preferences; phenotype-guided matching remains investigational.”

Menopausal hormone therapy should be prescribed for established menopausal indications rather than for weight loss.

“Menopausal hormone therapy should be prescribed for established menopausal indications rather than for weight loss.”

The review is limited to selected reproductive-to-menopausal contexts and does not comprehensively cover adolescent or geriatric obesity.

“The review is therefore limited to selected reproductive-to-menopausal contexts; adolescent obesity and geriatric obesity in later life require separate, age-specific consideration and are not comprehensively covered here.”