Research Reveals Why Obesity Runs in Families

Obesity, especially in young children has been flagged by doctors and health experts as dangerous and as something that requires immediate attention. An unhealthy diet and lack of exercise have been the more obvious reasons but it has also been seen that in some cases obesity could be the result of a genetic disorder. While the facts have been vague, this new study might be an stepping stone in uncovering another cause of childhood obesity.

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According to the research which appeared in the FASEB journal, parental obesity and diet can affect a child's likelihood to over-eat and become obese. Researchers also identified the genetic link that triggers this mechanism.To test their theory, scientists fed female rats either with a high-fat diet or a standard diet throughout pregnancy and lactation. All off-springs, including those of the high-fat treated rats, received standard food after weaning until adulthood. Their blood was analyzed for hormone levels and brain sections for a specific DNA sequence. Researchers found that genetic malprogramming induced by maternal high-fat diet had long-term effects on the offspring's vulnerability to be obese.

Asaf Marco, researcher at Bar Ilan University in Ramat-Gan, Israel said, "Blocked expression of a gene called POMC, which manages a discrete area of the brain that controls feeding behaviour could provide the missing link between a mother's diet and an offspring's risk of being obese in the future. Excess methylation (an important component in cellular processes) on the DNA sequence blocks the ability to express this gene, leading to a late satiety response, increased food intake and eventual obesity." He added, "We observed a clear correspondence between a specific genetic mechanism and weight gain, potentially allowing for early detection and prevention of obesity." The findings showed that being over-weight and obese has a direct impact on the genes which signal when it is time to stop eating.

With inputs from IANS