Patricia Inacio PhD,  —

Certain variations in the DNA sequence of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene increase the risk for obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes, a South Korean study reports. The study, “The Associations Between Vitamin D Receptor BsmI and ApaI Polymorphisms and Obesity in Korean Patients with…

Having a higher genetic likelihood for greater body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat, increases the risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to an analysis of data of more than 700,000 people. The study, “Obesity‐related traits and the development of rheumatoid arthritis — evidence…

Certain variants in the lactoferrin (LTF) and lactoferrin receptor-related genes may increase the risk for metabolic syndrome in obese people, a study suggests. The study, “Metabolic Health in Obese Subjects—Is There a Link to Lactoferrin and Lactoferrin Receptor-Related Gene Polymorphisms?,” was published in the journal Nutrients. Obesity…

The activity of four genes – specifically HOXA5, DMRT2, DMRT3 and CSN1S1 – may regulate body fat distribution in black South African women with obesity, a small study suggests. The findings also showed that a three-month exercise program led to substantial gene activity changes in both gluteal (buttocks) and…

Snacking, as well as unhealthy and emotional eating, share a common genetic risk with measures of obesity, namely body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, a study of twins suggests. The findings indicate that genetic susceptibility to obesity may be influenced by frequent snacking. The study, “The genetic…

Adults who carry certain genetic variants that raise their risk of obesity are more susceptible to increases in waist circumference when eating a diet high in total fat and saturated fats, according to a study in Ghana. The study, “Interaction between Metabolic Genetic Risk Score and Dietary Fatty Acid…

Daily treatment with setmelanotide for one year significantly reduced body weight and hunger in Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) patients with severe obesity, a Phase 2/3 trial shows. The study, “Effect of Setmelanotide, an MC4R Agonist, on Obesity in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome,” was published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and…

A broad diagnostic approach that takes into account genetics, hormonal changes, cognitive impairments, and medication use may help identify the underlying cause of pediatric obesity in almost 20% of cases, a Dutch study says. Titled “Identifying underlying medical causes of pediatric obesity: Results of a systematic diagnostic…

Mutations in three genes — PHIP, DGKI, and ZMYM4 — are linked to severe childhood obesity, a new large genetic study suggests. Notably, changes in the PHIP gene also were linked with learning difficulties, the researchers said. “Our findings suggest that PHIP should be included in genetic…

The number of treatments for children with rare diseases has grown over the past decade, according to a new study. However, despite the increase, nearly 7,000 rare diseases are still lacking treatment. And federal incentives to boost treatment development for these rare diseases have primarily focused not on creating new…