Genes Determine Where Your Fat Lands
Body shape and fat distribution appear to be partially controlled by genes involved normal development. DNA chips were used to compare the levels of activity for three specific genes - Tbx15, Gpc4, and HoxA5. Intra-abdominal and subcutaneous fat taken from individuals of normal weight versus overweight or obese individuals were analyzed with these three genes appearing to be especially important in fat deposits and obesity.
Dr. Stephane Gesta:
The differences we found in gene expression were so distinct that we could identify the body mass index (level of obesity) and the waist/hip ratio (whether the fat is in the abdomen or under the skin) in the overweight population by the expression level of these genes. This finding suggests that the expression of these genes could be related to the pathogenesis of obesity.
An understanding of why some of us get larger while others don’t will eventually help us develop some form of drug therapy to help the most extreme cases. Of course, changing our lifestyle would be far less dramatic and invasive.
Eat right, exercise, and live healthily. I know it’s not easy to do, but at some point we just gotta suck it up and do it.
EurekAlert, April 10, 2006
Tags: bmi, body-mass-index, disease, fat, Genes, genetics, gpc4, health, hoxa5, obesity, tbx15Related Stories
POSTED IN: Genetics of Disease
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5 opinions for Genes Determine Where Your Fat Lands
Genetics and Health » DNA Variation Associated with Fat Metabolism
Apr 14, 2006 at 6:03 am
[…] Yet another gene variant has been identified that may influence our body weight. A genetic variation located near INSIG2 (insulin-induced-gene 2) appears to be more common in obese individuals and is present in about 10 per cent of the general population. This DNA polymorphism could influence the activity of INSIG2 which produces a protein that regulates the manufacture of fatty acid and cholesterol. [Michael Christman, chairman of Boston University Medical School’s department of genetics and genomics] stressed that unhealthy eating and failure to exercise are probably just as responsible for obesity as are genes. But given the hereditary factors involved in many other people, he added, it may be possible to develop drugs to combat the genetic variations that contribute to obesity. […]
NAKED MEDICINE - www.NakedMedicine.com / Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Apr 18, 2006 at 8:14 pm
[…] And even with research telling us that genes determine our body shape, many individuals cannot accept certain aspects of their body, or even perceive “flaws” that are not really there. These individuals can also see things so minute, that it compels them to fix it, hide it, or shun themselves from others as a result of it. […]
lisalee
Apr 27, 2006 at 3:54 pm
[…] When newspapers announce that a gene has been discovered for a certain disease — such as the recent findings of genes involved in chronic fatigue syndrome, schizophrenia, and obesity — we inevitably get calls from people interested in testing for that genetic finding. But “finding a gene” can mean a few different things. […]
DNA Direct Talk » Blog Archive » All Gene Discoveries Are Not Equal
Nov 16, 2006 at 5:59 pm
[…] When newspapers announce that a gene has been discovered for a certain disease — such as the recent findings of genes involved in chronic fatigue syndrome, schizophrenia, and obesity — we inevitably get calls from people interested in testing for that genetic finding. But “finding a gene” can mean a few different things. Finding the gene: Sometimes, researchers identify a gene that definitely causes a disease, such as the discovery of the gene for hemophilia or cystic fibrosis. Such a finding does not necessarily mean that a genetic test is immediately available or that researchers can cure the disease. However, it does mean that the medical community may be closer to a possible cure. Knowing the genetic origin of a disease can aid in diagnosis. […]
evelyn dunlap
Jun 20, 2007 at 4:54 am
im trying to do research to the best of my knowledge about my body type which is appleshape or cone shape or in slang term top heavy or foul built. im 41 black female. in my 20s and early 30s my weight was more porportioned now my thighs have gotten unatractively smaller 23 inches and my buttocks are flat my stomach is 45 inches and i weigh 196 pounds wearing size 10 pants. what caused my thighs to become thinner and my waist bigger i was born to have big breast ,last year i got a breast reduction thinking that would poportion me better it made me worser. how do i build up my thighs and what caused this. my mother was built like this but only when she got up in age when she was younger she had a descent fiure. im to nice lookin in the face to have such a foul figur please give me the background or leads on women having anatomies like or almost like men please respond thank you
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