The research progress and prospects of circadian rhythm in obesity: a bibliometric analysis

Background: Numerous studies have shown a link between circadian rhythms disruptions and a higher risk of obesity. This article aims to conduct an extensive bibliometric analysis to deepen our understanding of the relationship between circadian rhythms and obesity. Methods: The literature related to the circadian rhythm of obesity, published from the inception of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) until June 30, 2024, was extracted from the WoSCC databases (SCIE, SSCI, ESCI). Using CiteSpace, Vosviewer, WPS, and other software, this paper examines the publication trends, including the number of papers, countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords. Results: A total of 2,870 articles were included in this analysis, revealing a consistent year by year increase in research on the circadian rhythm of obesity. These publications originate from 460 institutions in 88 countries. Among the authors analysis, Garaulet, Marta was the most prolific, and Turek FW was the most co-cited. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America emerged as the journal with the highest number of publications, and American Journal of Physiology had the highest centrality. The most frequently used keywords were "obesity," "circadian rhythm," "circadian clock," "metabolic syndrome," "metabolism." Additionally, research areas involving intermittent fasting, restricted feeding, and gut microbiota were rapidly developing and represented the forefront of research on circadian rhythms and obesity. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that research on circadian rhythms in obesity has been rapidly expanding, with increasingly in-depth exploration of the topic. It is recommended to strengthen cooperation between countries and institutions to jointly promote research in this field. The gene expression of obesity is an early hotspot in the study of circadian rhythm and obesity, and emerging research areas such as intermittent fasting, restricted feeding, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and gut microbiota will become significant hotspots and trends in the field of circadian rhythm and obesity. These findings provide researchers critical directions for future studies and may have significant implications for clinical practice and public health policy.