According to research, obesity might have more of a physical origin than was originally assumed. Recent studies show that the reasons why some people are more likely to become obese are rooted in the genes.
A study of more than 5,000 pairs of twins has found that a child’s risk of becoming overweight is mostly due to genetic connection and not nurturing. This study carried out by researchers of University College London was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Scientists measured the extent of the genetic contribution in comparison with the environmental contribution.
The research carried out into children in the age group between eight and 11 years of age, showed that the variation in a child’s body mass index and waist size was 77 percent due to genes and 23 percent due to the environmental factors.
Identical twins, who share all their genes were compared with non-identical twins, who share half their genes. Scientists worked out relative genetic contribution by spotting traits that occur more often in identical twins rather than non-identical twins.
Professor Jane Wardle of University College London who led the research said, “It is wrong to place all the blame for a child’s excessive weight gain on the parents – it is more likely to be due to the child’s genetic susceptibility.”
Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s director of health information, said: “We know that obesity is an important risk factor for a number of cancers so it is important for us all to do what we can to reduce our risk of the disease by eating healthily and maintaining an active lifestyle.”
Overweight children are more likely to become overweight or obese adults and this condition can contribute to ill health and increased cancer risk in later life. An overweight or obese child have a greater risk of possibly developing type II diabetes, depression and increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.
As obesity is becoming a worldwide problem, scientists are putting all their efforts in to finding the possible causes and treatments of it this condition. Treatments can’t be developed unless it is established what causes obesity. The recent study brought into light a key cause of obesity.
