New research has led to discovery of a gene that may increase adult’s chances of becoming obese with age.
Researchers were carrying out a study on mice to find information about the relation between heart and brain. As part of this study, they used mice and removed a certain gene. Apart from some cardiac deficiencies, researchers also found the onset of obesity among these mice. This result was unexpected for researchers but can help in future research with regards to obesity and its causes in humans.
One of the researchers said, “This was not an outcome we expected, but now we have an animal model that may provide new insight into human obesity.”
The name of this gene is Girk4 and on close examination; researchers found high levels in the hypothalamus. This region of brain regulates factors such as energy usage and food intake. According to researchers, more study is required to find out the exact working of the gene and why it causes an increase in body weight when it is absent.
This study of obesity pattern among mice may also help find out why there is currently such a clear pattern of increased obesity as people age. In humans, the occurrence of obesity increases progressively between the ages of 20 - 60.
What is Obesity?
It is a recognised medical condition that is aggravated by people’s irregular lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits. People are often forced by their busy lifestyle to eat so called junk foods instead of healthy home cooked meals thus there has been an influx in recent years of people having to deal with this condition.
Obesity is measured by health experts using BMI (body mass index). It is calculated by dividing the mass of the body in kilograms with height in meter squared. People who have a BMI value within the range 25-29 are generally considered overweight. Those with BMI above 30 are obese and might have to opt for treatment in order to not adversely affect their health. There are many obesity treatment drugs. However, a patient should select a treatment drugs after doing a medical consultation.
There are millions of obese people worldwide and this trend is growing at a fast pace. Child obesity is also becoming a matter of concern for many nations. Although treatment drugs prove useful, this trend can not be reversed unless people make some drastic lifestyle changes.
Brief Description
Researchers found a clue for obesity patterns among humans, as they age.
