Genetics of human obesity

Citation
P. Boutin et P. Froguel, Genetics of human obesity, BEST PRAC R, 15(3), 2001, pp. 391-404
Citations number
70
Categorie Soggetti
Endocrynology, Metabolism & Nutrition","Endocrinology, Nutrition & Metabolism
Journal title
BEST PRACTICE & RESEARCH CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
ISSN journal
1521690X → ACNP
Volume
15
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
391 - 404
Database
ISI
SICI code
1521-690X(200109)15:3<391:GOHO>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Obesity is a multifactorial condition. Environmental risk factors related t o a sedentary lifestyle and unlimited access to food apply constant pressur e in subjects with a genetic predisposition to gain weight. The fact that g enetic defects can result in human obesity has been unequivocally establish ed over the past 3 years with the identification of the genetic defects res ponsible for different monogenic forms of human obesity: the leptin, leptin receptor, pro-opiomelanocortin, pro-hormone convertase-1 and melanocortin- 4 receptor genes. The common forms of obesity are, however, polygenic. The examination of specific genes for involvement in the susceptibility to comm on obesity has not yet yielded convincing results. Approaches involving the candidate genes and the positional cloning of major obesity-linked regions (state-of-the-art future prospects) will be discussed.