Science Daily published an article entitled
“Finding Genes for Childhood Obesity: Genome Wide Study Identifies Genetic Variants Associated With Childhood Obesity” by Eleanor Wheeler, Ni Huang, Elena G. Bochukova, Julia M. Keogh, Sarah Lindsay, Sumedha Garg, Elana Henning, Hannah Blackburn, Ruth J. F Loos, Nick J. Wareham, Stephen O’Rahilly, Matthew E. Hurles, Ines Barroso, and Sadaf Farooqi. This article discusses the genetic analysis that has pinpointed genes that may be linked to severe obesity in children. In addition, the research revealed an elevated amount of structural variants in the DNA that erases G protein coupled receptors which maintain weight. Medication can be developed that focuses on these receptors in order to correct the problem.
I think this research is very significant because childhood obesity can have harmful effects on the body such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risks factors for cardiovascular disease.
Article Link:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130407133146.htmhttp://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-global-center-on-childhood-obesity/research/
Obesity is a serious US health problem. On our society today nearly a third of the young population are overweight or obese. Being obese means having a body mass index at or above 95 % for their gender and age. Overweight means to be over 85% but under 95%of your body mass index. Being obese can increase the risk of asthma, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The reason people are becoming obese is because they are taking in more calories than they can burn. Many adolescence today play video games, watch television, or do something else involving media. In doing so, children get bored so they decide to eat and people who do this often become obese. I know when I am home doing nothing or bored I will just eat, so I like to keep myself busy. There was a study done on mice that can tell us about obesity and genetics. Researchers at the University of California, studied the effect of high- calorie and high-sugar diets on more than 100 genetic strains of mice. In doing so, the scientist identified 11 genetic regions associated with obesity and the disposition of fat from the diet. First the mice consumed a regular diet for eight weeks than a high-calorie- or high-sugar diet for another eight weeks. They identified that the mice added from 0% to 600% of body fat compared with the original fat measures. Then they found that 80% body fat is likely regulated by the genes, which suggest that the processing of the food the mice ate was strongly directed by DNA. They saw that the mice that ate a lot did not necessarily gain more weight. The result of the experiment was that you do not necessarily have to burn what you consume. Physical activity is most important. For example how the mice move and metabolize food.
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