The obesity gene (FTO) increases the risk of obesity disease. However, not all people who have this gene may gain weight. For the FTO gene to become active and contribute to the development of obesity, certain conditions must be met. Find out what the FTO gene is and when it can lead to weight gain.

The obesity gene , specifically the obesity susceptibility gene ( FTO- fat mass and obesity associated gene) is a gene that increases the risk of weight gain in a person who has it.The FTOgene was discovered in humans in 2007 by British scientists. It is estimated that now it occurs in over 50 percent. Europeans, 1/3 of the US population (including half of them with European roots) and 1/4 of Hispanics.

The FTO gene increases the risk of obesity by up to 70 percent.

Numerous studies by scientists on large groups of people (one of the experiments involved as many as 38,000 Europeans) clearly show that having one of the variants of the FTO gene significantly increases the risk of developing obesity - both in children and adults (There are about 10 obesity-related FTO variants, the most common of which is rs9930506).

People with two copies of the version of the FTO gene predestined for obesity weigh an average of 3 kilograms more, and the risk of this disease is 70 percent higher in their case than in people without this version of the gene. In contrast, people who have one copy of the version of the obesity-related FTO gene weigh more than 1.6 kilograms, and have a 30 percent higher risk of obesity than those who do not have this version.

Obesity is determined not only by the Body Mass Index (BMI) you calculate with the BMI calculator, body weight and waist circumference, but also by the level of appetite. One version of the obesity predisposing FTO gene is most active in the hypothalamus - the part of the brain that controls the feeling of hunger and satiety. Thus, the version of the FTO gene plays a role in the way the brain perceives the feeling of hunger and satiety, and thus - affects the level of appetite and the amount of food consumed. This was confirmed by research which shows that people with this version of the FTO gene have a lower sense of satiety, and thus - eat more or eat more caloric products. In turn, excessiveeating meals contributes to a slower metabolism.

Some studies also show an association between the obesity-promoting FTO gene and components of the metabolic syndrome (correlating with BMI) such as waist circumference, insulin sensitivity, glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels. However, no unambiguous relationship between the gene and physical activity was found.

It should be noted that there is no single "obesity gene" responsible for the development of the obesity disease. It is now believed that there is a link between being overweight and over 100 genes.

Gen FTO is just one of them. Among other genes influencing body weight, a significant role is also played by e.g. the leptin gene (LEP), which is important in the regulation of appetite, or the beta-3 adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) gene, involved in both thermogenesis and lipolysis processes in adipose tissue. .

In this regard, referring to the FTO as the "obesity gene" is a shortcut. It is also worth knowing that the predisposition to the development of obesity may be monogenic (i.e. only one gene is responsible for it), but most often it is influenced by many genes.

Do you have the obesity gene? You don't need to gain weight!

There are many factors that contribute to the development of obesity - metabolic, environmental, psychological and genetic. However, the latter do not ultimately determine the emergence of this disease. Environmental factors play a dominant role in the process of excessive weight gain, such as improper diet, low physical activity, medications taken for other diseases and many others.

The FTO gene does not by itself cause obesity, but only increases the risk of its development

This means that people with the FTO gene (as well as other obesity genes) may or may not gain weight.

It depends on their lifestyle, including a proper diet. If they choose a high-calorie diet, the gene can become active and lead to obesity and lead to diseases that are complications of obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, or certain cancers.

This was vividly explained by Dr. David Heber of the University of California, Los Angeles, saying that "genes load the gun, but environmental factors such as diet pull the trigger."

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"Obesity gene" increases the risk of developing not only obesity

Research shows that the FTO gene increases the risk of developing obesity and more. University researchersCalifornian in Los Angeles, argue that its owners also have a greater risk of loss of brain tissue with age.

The obesity gene can be detected by performing a DNA test.

In turn, Australian scientists from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney found that the FTO gene by 82 percent. increases the risk of hip fracture in women over 60 years of age. In addition, this gene has been shown to be associated with polycystic ovary syndrome and female infertility. On the other hand, research by Canadian scientists from McMaster University shows that having this gene may protect against a genetic predisposition to depression, which is surprising because it is widely believed that obese people are more likely to develop this disease due to, for example, discrimination due to your appearance.

Bibliography:

1. Kolačkov K., Łaczmański Ł., Bednarek-Tupikowska G.,Influence of FTO gene polymorphisms on obesity risk , "Endocrinology, Obesity and Metabolism Disorders" 2010, vol. 6, no. 22. Tercjak M., Łuczyński W., Wawrusiewicz-Kurylonek, N., Bossowski A.,The role of FTO polymorphism in the pathogenesis of obesity , "Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism" 2010, 16, 2, 3. www.cordis.europa.eu/news/rcn/28659_en.html

Important

Poradnikzdrowie.pl supports safe treatment and a dignified life of people suffering from obesity. This article does not contain discriminatory and stigmatizing content of people suffering from obesity.

Category:

Obesity