Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Genetics Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness Article Date: 05 Jun 2012 - 14:00 PDT

Current ratings for: 'Genetic Risk Scores And Obesity Later In Life Among Children'

The researchers explain that obesity can be inherited and GWASs (genome-wide association studies) have started to reveal the molecular roots of heritability by identifying SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) which are associated with higher BMIs (body mass indexes).

Daniel W. Belsky, Ph.D., and team wrote:

The researchers gathered data on 1,037 New Zealanders who were members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study. 52% of them were males. They were all born between April 1972 and March 1973. They were assessed every few years up to the age of 38 years.

Participants with higher GRSs (genetic risk scores) had greater BMIs between ages 3 to 38 for every age assessed. Children identified with a high genetic risk were found to have a 1.61 to 2.41 times higher chance of becoming obese during their teens to late thirties , and 1.90 times more likely to become chronically obese across over three assessments compared to the other kids.

Children at higher genetic risk experienced more severe adiposity rebound than other kids. Adiposity rebound means gaining fat after losing weight - piling the pounds back on. Adiposity rebound also appeared to occur earlier on among kids at higher genetic risk.

Children of normal weight at higher genetic risk, whose parents were overweight, were found to have faster growth and a greater chance of becoming obese.

The authors explained that genetic score risk contributed "independent and additive information" to predicting how much children might grow and/or become obese later on in life - this data went beyond family history data.

In the same journal, the authors concluded:

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Genetic Risk Scores And Obesity Later In Life Among Children

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