OBESITY GENE: Two recent studies may offer help for the overweight. Scientists discovered a genetic variation predisposes people to obesity, while the number of fat cells determined in childhood can predict people's size as adults.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in developed nations such as the United States and Great Britain. Obesity causes diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses. Since 75% of overweight children become overweight adults, helping obese children in particular may improve their health later in life

Study Reveals Gene Variation May Cause Obesity

International researchers looked at genetic codes for 77,000 people, and discovered that a disturbance near the MC4R gene may be responsible for obesity.

They do not yet understand how, but people with this variation in both of their chromosome sets weigh about 3.3 pounds more than people without the variation.

Researchers involved in the study represented 77 institutions around the world including Europe and the United States. British scientists at Cambridge and Oxford led the study, which was published Sunday in the journal Nature Genetics.

Number of Fat Cells Determined in Childhood

In an unrelated study, Swedish researchers at the Karolinska Institute discovered that the number of our fat cells, called adipoctyes, is determined while we’re still kids. For the most part that number does not change, even if we lose weight.

This may explain why it’s so difficult to keep weight off after a successful diet, and why overweight children tend to grow into overweight adults.

Help for the Overweight

Obesity has grown to epidemic proportions in the United States and other industrialized nations, as have obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. Genetic screening for the MC4R variation may help identify at-risk children, so that they do not grow into obese adults. More than three-quarters of overweight children mature into overweight adults.

Information from the Swedish study about fat cell numbers may help pharmaceutical companies develop products to reduce adipocytes in adults, or stop the overproduction of them in childhood. That would help overweight adults lose weight, and at-risk children from becoming overweight.

Copyright © 2009 Informify

Sources

"Obesity studies explain genetic risks; lead to potential treatments" (AFP)

"Gene sequence puts half of UK population at greater risk of obesity, researchers say " (The Guardian)

Question for Readers:

Do you think genetics cause obesity?