Common childhood obesity may now be considered genetic. A researcher at the Children´s Hospital of Philadelphia led the study, considered to be the largest of its kind, to determine the origins of this pediatric condition. According to his research, there are at least two new genetic variations responsible for increasing the risk of common childhood obesity.
Lead investigator and associate director of the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children´s Hospital of Philadelphia Struan F. A. Grant, Ph.D. said of the study, “This is the largest-ever genome-wide study of common childhood obesity, in contrast to previous studies that have focused on more extreme forms of obesity primarily connected with rare disease syndromes.”
“As a consequence, we have definitively identified and characterized a genetic predisposition to common childhood obesity.”
This study appeared online in Nature Genetics and was conducted in part by the Early Growth Genetics (EGG) Consortium.
Obesity continues to receive public attention as one of the major health concerns affecting modern society. Even more alarming is the amount of children who are reported as being obese. According to research, children who are obese have a higher risk of death once they become adults. This new research suggests there may be more factors at play in childhood obesity. Family history and even genetics may increase the risk of childhood obesity, as well as poor food choices and sedentary habits.
In a press release announcing the new results, Dr. Grant said being able to work with the EGG gave him the statistical power to determine genetic signals in the children studied.
Dr. Grant included 14 previous studies in his research, including 5,530 cases of childhood obesity and 8,300 control subjects. In looking at the data, Dr. Grant and his team found two instances of genetic evidence which could be responsible for childhood obesity. Additionally, the team also found two other genetic variants which may also increase obesity risks.
“The known biology of three of the genes,” added Grant, “hints at a role of the intestine, although their precise functional role in obesity is currently unknown.”
Dr. Grant believes this evidence isn´t entirely conclusive, though it does give researchers a place to start when they study childhood obesity.
“This work opens up new avenues to explore the genetics of common childhood obesity,” said Grant in the press release. “Much work remains to be done, but these findings may ultimately be useful in helping to design future preventive interventions and treatments for children, based on their individual genomes.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The CDC says this obesity is caused by a “caloric imbalance,” or too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed. They also say genetic factors as well as environmental and behavioral factors can also increase the risk of childhood obesity. Keys to preventing childhood obesity, as outlined by the CDC, include healthy lifestyle habits, healthy eating and physical activity.
Comments