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The genetics of obesity
Coleen M Damcott1, Paul Sack, Alan R Shuldiner
1Division of Endocrinolog, Diabetes, and Nutrition, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 660 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America
|January 9, 2004
Summary
Genetic factors significantly contribute to obesity, with "thrifty metabolism" genes, once advantageous, now promoting obesity in modern lifestyles. Numerous genes with modest effects predispose individuals to common obesity forms.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Public Health
- Metabolism
Background:
- Obesity prevalence has surged globally, posing significant public health challenges.
- Genetic factors play a substantial role in obesity, despite minimal changes in human genes over recent decades.
- The "thrifty genotype" hypothesis suggests genes favoring nutrient storage, once adaptive, now contribute to obesity in modern "obesigenic" environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the genetic underpinnings of common obesity.
- To investigate the role of multiple genes and their interactions in obesity predisposition.
- To identify chromosomal regions and specific genes associated with obesity susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- Association analyses and functional studies of candidate genes.
- Genome-wide scans for obesity phenotypes.
- Identification and replication of chromosomal regions harboring obesity susceptibility genes.
Main Results:
- Several candidate genes have been identified, contributing modestly to obesity and related traits.
- Emerging insights into gene-gene interactions influencing obesity.
- Replicated chromosomal regions identified through multiple genome-wide scans suggest the presence of obesity susceptibility genes.
Conclusions:
- Numerous genes, each with a modest effect, likely contribute to common obesity.
- Further research, including positional cloning, will elucidate the molecular mechanisms of energy homeostasis and obesity.
- Understanding genetic predispositions is crucial for addressing the obesity pandemic.