Genetics of Obesity

Abstract

Obesity is a complex metabolic condition, which is characterized by excessively high amount of fat tissue. Rates of obesity are rising in all industrialized countries, seemingly as a consequence of modern life. Food is more accessible and higher in calories, while the need for physical activity is limited. Many individuals put on excessive weight, which leads to serious health problems, such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. Some are able to control their weight gain by reducing the food intake, carefully balancing the amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in their diet and increasing physical activity. Others, however, do not respond to interventions and continue to gain weight despite all the efforts. Scientists have long contemplated that tendency to excessive weight gain may be genetically determined, and recent discoveries of several obesity-related genes demonstrate that genes do influence the individual's body weight, similar to the height or eye color.

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• Influence of multiple genes on the individual's body weight
• Obesity as autosomal recessive trait: new theories and research
• Genetic vs. environmental factors in obesity
• Influence of genetic factors on body mass and body fat distribution
• Role of genes in metabolism
• Genetic regulation of appetite and response to high caloric intake
• Understanding of the genetic factors in obesity and its application in treatment plans

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