Translational Gaps in Assessing the Obesogenic Effects of Herbicides: A Scoping Review

Obesity is a disease characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue. It is a multifactorial condition arising from complex interactions among genetic background, lifestyle-related factors (such as physical inactivity, socioeconomic and cultural determinants), and environmental factors, including dietary patterns and exposure to environmental pollutants. In this context, exposure to environmental pollutants has been considered an independent risk factor for the development of obesity. However, the evidence linking herbicide exposure and obesity is limited. Therefore, the present scoping review aimed to map the available evidence regarding the obesogenic effects of herbicides across in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological models, evaluate their translational concordance, and identify methodological gaps in the available literature. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus to identify studies reporting the effect of herbicide exposure and obesity-related endpoints. The search was limited to March 2026. A total of 24 studies fully met our eligibility criteria and were classified into in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological evidence categories. The findings revealed a substantial disconnect across the different levels of evidence. In both in vitro and in vivo studies, the concentrations and doses tested often did not reflect realistic exposure scenarios, thereby limiting the applicability of these findings to human health risk assessment. In contrast, epidemiological studies frequently relied on obesity indicators with limited sensitivity and specificity, such as body mass index (BMI). Overall, the evidence suggests limited external validity in population-based studies and the arbitrary selection of concentrations and doses in experimental models.