Gene Mutation Linked to Increased Risk of Obesity in Children

            Obesity has been a major health issue for many years, particularly for citizens of the United States of America.  A serious problem is that obesity has been steadily increasing in children.  It has been thought that bad eating habits and less time spent on physical activity cause obesity.  However, a study conducted by researchers in Britain has discovered a genetic cause and higher risk of obesity in children.  They found that mutations in the KSR2 gene result in larger appetites and slower metabolism than children with normal copies of the KSR2 gene.  Metabolism is essentially how well the body burns calories.  Children are consuming lots of calories and aren’t burning as much off.  As a result, this leads to obesity.  The researchers came to this conclusion after completing genetic analyses on more than 2,100 extremely obese children.  Sadaf Farooqi, the author of the study, says that “changes in diet and levels of physical activity underlie the recent increase in obesity; however, some people gain weight more easily than others.”  He goes on further to say that genetic factors are the reason some gain weight more easily than others and the mutations in the KSR2 gene explains this.  Previously, Farooqi and his fellow researchers discovered that the deletion of the KSR2 gene causes obesity in mice and this demonstrated how the gene affects energy balance and metabolism.  With this information, it was determined that the KSR2 gene functions the same way in humans.  From this research study, Farooqi hopes to be able to find a treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

            This research study is extremely informative and important.  America is one of the most obese countries in the world and now there is a reason why.  I am not saying that all obese children in the United States have this mutation of the KSR2 gene, but there are some that definitely do.  Those that don't have the mutation need to exercise more and make healthier eating choices.  This finding provides an answer to those children with the KSR2 mutation who try to lose weight through exercise and healthy dieting, but can’t.  One question that I thought of while reading this article is does the KSR2 cause obesity in adults or is there another genetic factor responsible?  Anyway now that there is a genetic factor that has been identified to increase the risk of obesity, that doesn’t mean children should stop exercising and eating healthy.  It is even more important now for those children who have the KSR2 gene mutation to continue to be involved in physical activity and have healthy diets.  These are the two current methods of combating childhood obesity.  Due the KSR2 gene mutation, hopefully one day there will be a treatment for those children that are obese and have type 2 diabetes.