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…

People who are genetically predisposed toward obesity or having high levels of so-called “bad” cholesterol — low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, a study reported. The study, “Causal Inference for Genetic Obesity, Cardiometabolic Profile and COVID-19 Susceptibility: A Mendelian Randomization…

People whose genetics predispose them towards obesity are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease (CKD), a new study indicates. Notably, the findings suggest that obesity can cause CKD primarily by increasing the risk of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. The study, “Conventional and…

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…

People with a genetic risk for being overweight or obese are more likely to have an incisional hernia — or hernia that’s a complication of a surgery — and, if obese, a post-surgical infection as well, a study suggests. “Association of Genetic Risk of Obesity with Postoperative…

Genetic variations in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene are strongly associated with obesity in both children and adults in the Chinese population, a study reports. The study, “FTO gene polymorphisms and obesity risk in Chinese population: a meta-analysis,” was published in the World Journal of Pediatrics. The…

Children carrying a genetic variant of the FTO gene are prone to eat more calories, with each copy of the variant resulting in approximately 65 more calories being ingested at each meal, a new study shows. These findings suggest genetic factors affect eating behavior and food preferences in children, which may help…

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.