News

Carrying mutations in other genes besides those typically associated with Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) likely contributes to the severity and diversity of the disorder, according to a case report on two brothers. The study, “Multiple genetic mutations implicate spectrum of phenotypes in Bardet-Biedl syndrome,” was published in the journal…

Mutations in the MRAP2 gene may increase the risk for obesity, high blood sugar, and hypertension, a large genetic study has found. The study, “Loss-of-function mutations in MRAP2 are pathogenic in hyperphagic obesity with hyperglycemia and hypertension,” was published in the journal Nature Medicine. Loss-of-function mutations…

Being born heavier than normal adds to a person’s genetic risk for being overweight or becoming obese during adulthood, a study suggests. The findings indicate that genes interact with the environment in the uterus to determine the likelihood of becoming obese. As such, a person’s genetic predisposition for obesity may…

Rare disease-themed videos glowed on a large screen before an audience of people in wheelchairs, with crutches, and bearing oxygen tanks this Nov. 9 and 10 in San Francisco. Disorder: The Rare Disease Film Festival strives to eventually host a film about every one of the nearly 7,000 rare…

Having a genetic cause of obesity does not lessen the efficacy of bariatric surgery as a way of losing weight, a study reports. Although this study suggests equal effectiveness for this surgery in obese patients with and without a genetic cause, weight loss was lesser in people…

People with a greater genetic risk for obesity are more likely to have one of the leading causes of death, which include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, kidney failure, and liver disease, a study reports. Importantly, the impact of this genetic risk on…

One-year treatment with setmelanotide in two Phase 3 trials significantly decreased the body mass index (BMI) of people with POMC deficiency or LEPR deficiency, two genetic obesity disorders. The data were presented at ObesityWeek 2019, the annual meeting of The Obesity Society, held Nov. 3-8 in…

Middle-age and older people who have a greater genetic risk for high body mass index (BMI) are significantly more likely to be overweight or obese and are more susceptible to metabolic dysfunction, a study suggests. The study, “Genetic scores for…

Carrying a genetic risk for obesity and high blood pressure is associated with a shorter lifespan, a study suggests. The study, “Trans-ethnic mega-biobank polygenic risk score analysis involving 676,000 individuals identified blood pressure and obesity as causal drivers affecting human longevity,” was presented at the…

Depression increases the likelihood of gaining excess weight and aggravates the role that genetics plays in people with a high body mass index (BMI), a large study from the U.K. reports. MC4R, a gene involved in genetic disorders of obesity, seems to be an important link between…