A minority of obesity cases could be caused by genetics, research reveals
For some people at least, obesity can be attributed to genetic make-up rather than lifestyle factors.
While acknowledging that the significant majority of cases of obesity are the result of high-calorific diets and sedentary lifestyles, a new report in the journal Nature has claimed that at least a few of the 700,000 obese Britons can blame 'faulty genes' for their condition.
The report revealed that research carried out by a team working at Imperial College London found a common missing chunk of gene material in dozens of overweight or obese individuals, with none of the study participants of normal weight found to have the same 'deletion' in their genetic makeup.
Notably, all of those with the missing gene were found to have been of normal weight as a child, though as adults they all have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or over, thereby making them 'clinically obese'.
Commenting on the findings, Imperial College's Professor Philippe Froguel explained that it is becoming increasingly apparent to scientists that, for a minority at least, genes can be an underlying cause of weight gain and obesity.
"If we can identify these individuals through genetic testing, we can then offer them appropriate support and medical interventions, such as the option of weight loss surgery, to improve their long-term health," he said.
According to the National Obesity Forum, around one in five adults across the UK are now regarded as being obese, with the condition heightening the risk of diabetes and heart disease and reducing life expectancy levels, while also having a negative impact on levels of happiness and even the British economy.
Posted by Stephen Tate
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