Obesity Prediction Could Be Guided by Genetic Risk Scores

 In an article written by the NY Times, there was a study conducted to see if there was a correlation between obesity and one’s genetic makeup. Many believe that your genetic component is stronger than your environment. Dr. Hiroschorn, an author for Nature Medicine states that genetics offers indications of who is and isn’t at risk of being obese. “Finding a genetic footprint for obesity has proved challenging. With rare exceptions, there’s not one gene or even a few that are the culprits. Instead, obesity is spurred by thousands of gene variants acting in concert. Each variant exerts a tiny effect”.

With the data given from these genetic variants, it could help the providers give the patients the proper guidance and support to live a healthier lifestyle in anticipation of weight-related health dangers. The scores given can give us an idea of when young children could get obesity as adults. This would provide a lot of help for the future generations of kids and prevent issues such as heart disease (elevated cholesterol and blood pressure). Aside from genetic factors, there are also environmental factors that greatly affect the individual but genetic composition is definitely important.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/health/obesity-genetic-risk-score.html?searchResultPosition=2 

https://obesitymedicine.org/blog/obesity-and-genetics/ 

Why Can't I Comb My Hair?

 

    Have you ever tried combing your hair and wondered why it won't detangle or style the way you want it to? Most parents started to get worried when they realized their child's hair was different from others. Luckily, they aren't alone. Human geneticist Regina Betz of University Hospital Bonn in Germany and her team linked three genes that causes this silvery, spangly, spun glass hair. This is known as uncombable hair syndrome when the hair tends to grow in opposite directions. Currently there is no treatment, however, most kids outgrow these symptoms once adolescents. The gene PADI3 encodes an enzyme involved in hair shaft formation. Mutations within the PADI3 gene can disrupt hair structure. Some of the cases studied were linked to variants of TGM3 or TCHH which affect hair shaft structure. Uncombable hair syndrome isn't linked with any other health conditions which is a relief for parents. 

Pediatric cancer and its Recurrence

            Many would argue that pediatric cancer, cancer in children specifically those aged 1 to 14, is arguable one of the worse victimizers of children out there.  It results in an 80 percent survival rate over 5 years.  Unfortunately even those who survive are at an increased risk for a secondary cancer to develop in the skin, thyroids, or breasts.   By age 45 almost thirty percent of childhood cancer victims have been re-diagnosed.  A much higher rate than someone who didn’t previously have cancer.   Noticing this increased risk researchers set to find out the cause.   They took a look at about 3007 survivors of childhood cancer and analyze their DNA specifically 156 genes that have been previously linking to cancer.  It was found that 11.5 percent of the survivors had a mutation in one of these genes. The researchers then looked specifically at a subset of about 60 genes which carried a higher risk factor than the others, 6 percent of those looked at had a mutation in this subset of genes.  Radiation therapy is also increases the risk factor for secondary cancer development.  Further dividing up the childhood victims by this factor showed that 17% of individuals who did not have radiation therapy, had a mutation in the subset of 60 genes, and a higher risk for secondary cancer. Individuals who possessed both a mutation in one of the 60 genes and previous radiation treatment had a higher risk for specific kinds of second cancers which included; breast, thyroid or sarcomas,  and tumors in connective tissues.  The team concluded that individuals who had cancer as a child, did not receive radiation therapy, and then became diagnosed with a secondary cancer receive genetic counseling.

Original article here

for the American Cancer Societies page on pediatric cencer here