Genes found to be 'responsible' for obesity in men and women
Genetic therapy targeting men and women separately will make it easier to lose weight, scientists believe.Obesity is a global problem that affects 650 million adults and 124 million children and adolescents. It is known that obesity is 70% directly related to genetic factors.
In addition, adult men and women have very different physiologies of obesity. Fat accumulates differently and is stored in different places.
In a new study, researchers from the University of Cambridge analyzed data from 414,032 adults from the UK Biobank.
It turned out that five genes - DIDO1, KIAA1109, MC4R, PTPRG and SLC12A5 - were associated with obesity in women; and two - MC4R and SLTM - in men. And, although, the results relate to the increasingly criticized measure body mass index (BMI), it nevertheless provides the basis for new correlations between genes and body condition.
The DIDO1, MADD and SLTM genes are also linked to cell death and DNA damage.
Based on these findings, scientists want to create a genetic therapy for obesity that targets men and women, making it easier to lose weight.
The study is published in the journal Cell Genomics.