Genetics and Epigenetics in Obesity: What Do We Know so Far?

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Epigenetics
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Significant advancements in understanding obesity's genetic basis.
• Growing evidence links epigenetic modifications to obesity and related traits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current research in the genetics and epigenetics of obesity.
• To highlight the challenges and future directions in the field.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent genetic studies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
• Analysis of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) for methylation sites.
• Discussion of polygenic risk scores (PGS) and methylation risk scores (MRS).

Main Results:

• Hundreds of genetic variants associated with obesity have been identified via GWAS.
• EWAS have revealed novel targets and methylation sites crucial in obesity pathophysiology.
• Development of PGS and MRS offers potential for individual obesity risk prediction.

Conclusions:

• Despite progress, the clinical utility of PGS and MRS for obesity prediction is still challenging.
• Future research aims to identify more obesity-associated loci for a comprehensive understanding of its etiology.
• The ultimate goal is to develop robust prediction scores for clinical use in predicting obesity and treatment responses.