Six New Obesity Genes Found
Author: tiger Published Under: Health
Obesity is a something that affects an increasingly large number of people in America and throughout the world. Obesity carries with it many health risks and safety concerns. A new study appears to identify six genes that play a role in obesity, furthering the link between obesity and genetics. Five of the six genes discovered where not thought to be involved with obesity until the conclusion of this study.
The quest to find and identify genes associated with obesity is something that is ongoing. Thus far, one organization, the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Parameters, or GIANT, has been responsibly for analyzing more than 2 million different genetic variations in over 30,000 people, in an effort to better understand how our bodies work.
With this recent discovery of six new obesity genes, there are now eight known genes that have been identified to play a part in obesity. Interestingly, these genes are all located in brain cells.
The one gene that had been suspected of playing a role in obesity prior to the study was found to be involved with the production of leptin. Leptin is a hormone in the body that helps control and suppress appetite.
Leptin, since its discovery over 10 years ago, has long been thought to be a key to reducing an individuals urge to eat, thereby controlling weight.
However, leptin looses its effectiveness in those who are obese, so has never been truly affective as a means of artificially controlling a persons appetite.
In a separate study, scientists in Chicago have recently reported a means of circumventing leptin resistance in mice, but have yet to try it with people. They hope that this finding will eventually be used to control eating urges in humans.
With the discovery of these six new genes, all of which are found in the brain, there is further evidence that genetics play a strong role in obesity.
The researchers cautioned, however, that a proper diet and adequate physical activity, is still the most important way to combat obesity.