New Delhi, Sep 16 Ever wondered why some people with obesity remain relatively healthy while others develop serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease? Genetic differences may be the reason, according to a study.
An international team of researchers led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark analysed genetic data from 452,768 people and discovered variants in 205 regions of the genome linked to higher body fat but better metabolic health.
Using these discoveries, they developed a genetic risk score that adds up the impact of these variants. Individuals with higher scores were more likely to develop obesity -- but were less likely to suffer from complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or heart disease. This is due, in part, to the way fat cells behave in different people.
Importantly, these protective genetic effects were already visible in children. Kids carrying the protective variants were more likely to develop obesity but did not show the expected warning signs of metabolic disease, revealed the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine.
"Our study shows that obesity is not a single condition -- it is made up of different subtypes, each with its own risks," said Nathalie Chami, Instructor of Environmental Medicine and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, at the Icahn School.
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The research also identified eight distinct obesity subtypes, each linked to unique health risks.
"These insights could eventually help doctors predict which patients are most vulnerable to complications and inform new treatments that mimic the protective genetic effects found in some people," said Dr. Chami.
The research team cautions that the findings do not mean obesity is harmless.
"Most people with obesity still face health challenges, and lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise remain critical for overall health," said Zhe Wang, Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The study was conducted in individuals from the UK Biobank, comprising people of European ancestry, and future work will extend to more diverse populations. It leveraged this data to perform a comprehensive multi-trait genome-wide screen.
The team wanted to find new genes that affect body fat without being linked to cardiometabolic comorbidities by analyzing three adiposity and eight cardiometabolic traits, including lipid, glycemic, and blood pressure traits.
"By revealing new biological pathways that separate obesity from related diseases, the findings may pave the way for more personalised care, better-targeted therapies, and earlier prevention strategies -- even from childhood," said Ruth Loos, Professor at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
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