More relevant than diet or even sport . Genetics have turned out to be the most important factor in the propensity to gain weight and be obese. This is confirmed by two new studies published in the journal Nature, which would explain why some people tend to gain weight so easily. The key is in the genes.
We all know people who despite eating in quantity, do not tend to gain anything or practically nothing; on the contrary, there are also people who gain weight with astonishing ease even without ingesting large amounts. Why does this happen? Both studies explain the reasons .
The scientists, from various institutions and members of the Genetic Research Consortium for Anthropometric Traits (GIANT), analyzed genetic samples from more than 300,000 people, in order to analyze genetic variation and its relationship with obesity. The results revealed more than 140 genome-wide positions that influence some obesity traits , three times more than known so far.
In the first study, experts looked at where fat was stored in the body, specifically focusing on the ratio of waist and hip circumference. Having a waist larger than the hips makes people more prone to metabolic disorders such as diabetes or cardiovascular problems. The results showed that the genetic locations associated with fat deposits were linked to genes previously related to the creation of adipose tissue or fat .
“Finding out which genes influence where fat is deposited would help to understand the biology of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and heart disease. This is a first step towards identifying additional genes that affect obesity . In the future, some of these genes may be good targets for drug development ”, explains Karen Mohlke, leader of this study, to Sinc.
In the second study, the focus was on body mass index or BMI. After identical tests, they discovered 97 regions in the genome that influenced the tendency towards obesity. “Our work clearly demonstrates that the predisposition to obesity and increased BMI is not due to a single gene or genetic change. The large number of genes involved makes it less likely that a single strategy will work for everyone , ”explains Elizabeth Speliotes, a bioinformatician at the University of Michigan and leader of the second study.
