News

A new weekly formulation of setmelanotide, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals’ lead treatment candidate for rare genetic obesity disorders, is as safe and effective in promoting weight loss as the daily formulation, interim data from a Phase 2 trial show. The findings, collected from people with obesity but without these genetic…

The Alexion Charitable Foundation has awarded $1.1 million in grants to programs that support those with rare diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization recently announced. The grants will support activities that align with the foundation’s Rare Belonging focus, a set of funding priorities aimed at improving the…

Vigorous physical activity protects against increases in body mass index (BMI) among people, especially white women, at high genetic risk of obesity, according to a new study of adults older than 50.  The study, “…

MyHeritage, a consumer genetic testing company, has added a risk score for genetic obesity and high body mass index (BMI) to its at-home product called MyHeritage DNA Health test. The addition comes along with six other new features, including an enhanced hereditary BRCA cancer report, and…

Being fed breast milk exclusively in the first five months of life significantly reduces the genetic risk of becoming obese later in life, and may be a key intervention to prevent weight gain among children with the highest genetic risk, a recent study has found. The study, “…

In contrast to previous reports, POMC deficiency leads to both obesity and high levels of the protein adiponectin, a study in mice suggested. Shedding light on the molecular workings of POMC deficiency, a rare form of genetic obesity, the research shows that a previously unknown pathway drives the…

The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) recently created a Rare Disease Diversity Coalition focused on reducing racial disparities in the rare disease community. Getting a timely and accurate diagnosis for a disease that few people — sometimes even physicians — have heard of is challenging on its own merit.

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…

Mutations in two blood pressure-related genes — angiotensinogen (AGT) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) — may increase a person’s risk of being overweight or obese, according to a study of Tunisians. While previous studies in several ethnic populations have reported conflicting results, these findings support the existence of a…

Variations in the PPARGC1A, UCP1, and FNDC5 genes — involved in regulating the body’s energy expenditure — are linked to severe obesity, a recent study suggests. The study, “…