Patricia Inacio PhD,  —

Obesity during adolescence is significantly associated with socioeconomic status and genetic factors, but the contribution of dietary intake and physical activity is conflicting, a review of 40 published studies shows. Noting that literature on the multiple factors linked to childhood obesity is limited, researchers said further studies are needed…

Genetic variations in the tenomodulin (TNMD) gene are associated with obesity and metabolic alterations in children in a sex-specific manner, working as a risk factor in boys while being a protective element in girls, a study has found. Findings suggest that genetic variants of the TNMD gene could be used as…

Although obesity is mostly related to unhealthy habits, new research in adolescents suggests that epigenetic changes — those that affect gene expression without altering the DNA sequence — in obesity-related genes also may contribute to the disease. The study with that finding, “Association between DNA methylation in obesity-related genes…

A person’s thinness, like obesity, is a heritable trait linked to multiple genes, and slimmer people carry fewer genetic variants that increase the risk for obesity, a new study shows. The study, “Genetic architecture of human thinness compared to severe obesity,” was published in the journal PLOS Genetics.

A new mutation in the leptin receptor (LEPR) gene, leading to loss of the LEPR protein, has been identified in male and female members of an Iranian family, a study reports. However, the outcomes of the mutation varied with gender — in males, early-onset obesity began to decrease around puberty…

Levels of a protein called fibronectin in urine of Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) patients correlate with renal dysfunction, a study shows, suggesting that fibronectin could be a potential biomarker for BBS patients at risk of kidney failure. The study, “Urine Proteomics Revealed a Significant Correlation Between Urine-Fibronectin Abundance and Estimated-GFR Decline…

Targeting the Iroquois homeobox 3 (IRX3) gene in a particular type of neuron located in the hypothalamus — the brain region regulating body fat — is a potential strategy for treating obesity, a new study shows. The study, “The partial inhibition of hypothalamic IRX3 exacerbates obesity” was published in the…