Question

What role do genetic factors play in obesity?

Answer 1

Research has shown that genetics plays a critical role in obesity. Genes can directly cause obesity in disorders such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome. The risk for obesity risk two to eight times higher for a person with a family history, as opposed to a person with no family history of obesity and an even higher risk, is observed in cases of severe obesity. Heritability of obesity tends to be higher for phenotypes linked to adipose tissue distribution and for weight or body fat excess. Polymorphisms in various genes controlling appetite and metabolism predispose to obesity under certain dietary conditions.