less body fat but higher blood pressure and pear shape

The University of Copenhagen conducted new research about people with the gene variation FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21). FGF21 hormone acts as insulin-sensitizing, meaning it improves the sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin, this helps diabetics with lowering their insulin needs. Through the reseach it has been found that FGF21 hormone is linked to less body fat, higher blood pressure, and a more pear shaped body. People with this gene variation consume on average more sugar (they have a higher craving for sweets). This comes as a shock to the researchers due to a lot of information about how sugar is the cause for more fat storage in the body. More sugar more body fat. however with this gene variation it is shown that they eat more sugar and have less body fat. This is still only a small portion of the larger picture of sugar and obesity/diabetes' said Professor Niels Grarup from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research. The FGF21 may help in lower body fat then others who do not have it but it also increases the change of higher blood pressure and more fat pockets in the waist (creating a pear shaped body). They hope that with this new knowledge it will be important for the creation of drugs. This also will help with later studies.

References

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180411111013.htm

http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext

Women's Body Shape Can Affect How Susceptible They Are to Type 2 Diabetes

The gene KLF14 regulates body fat storage in women which can affect how susceptible a women is to type 2 diabetes. Most of the genes that are associated with type 2 diabetes relate to the pancreas, but, unlike these genes, the KLF14 gene relates to fat tissue. A particular version of this gene leads to storing more fat around the hips and causes women with larger hips to normally have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, people, in general, who have most of their weight stored at their midsection have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The different variations of this particular gene may also be a factor in people's response to insulin. This gene, however, does not effect how heavy an individual might become, just where their body fat will be stored.
The original article explains the correlation between the KLF14 gene and the risk for type 2 diabetes. It is helpful to estimate risk of diabetes by just looking in a mirror. Although it is obviously better to eat clean and live a healthy lifestyle, an easy indicator of diabetes like placement of body fat is extra incentive not to grab for that extra slice of cake. Hopefully further research on this particular gene can lead to new treatments.