Genes linked to obesity identified

Scientists have identified genes that may cause obesity, paving the way for interventions to prevent chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

Researchers identified multiple genetic variants associated with how the body regulates and distributes body-fat tissue. The findings may broaden the understanding of how genes can predispose certain individuals to obesity.

Genome-wide association studies previously identified 49 loci, or positions along a chromosome where the related genetic variants are located, that predispose individuals to a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).

Researchers including those from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the US found 24 coding loci -- 15 common and nine rare -- along the chromosomes of individuals that predispose to higher WHR.

Further analysis revealed pathways and gene sets that influenced not only metabolism but also the regulation of body fat tissue, bone growth and adiponectin, a hormone that controls glucose .