Obesity is an increasing problem that is both an individual health risk and a burden for the health care system. Increase in weight occurs when the calories taken in become greater than the calories burned. However, the amount of weight gained is determined by other behavioural factors such as appetite and satiety, which are just as influencial as the biochemical mechanisms that store and breakdown food. This article addresses the issue that weight gain can be due to genetic mutations that affect the behavioural processes, meaning some people are literally wired to overeat.
These mutations occur in the hypothalamus, the centre for the control of many basic bodily functions, such as body temperature, hunger and fluid balance. Patients observed with this mutation were found to have suffered an almost exponential gain in weight. Studies undertaken in twins proved that genetics can account for 40%-70% of the change of BMI (Body Mass Index). Out of the five genes known to be active in the brain that could possibly be linked to obesity, it has been discovered so far that one of these genes can be linked to an increase in BMI.
This article has shown that genes can be actively linked to obesity, due to a change in behavioural processes that affect the rate at which weight is gained. Further study into this area will hopefully one day open doors to new more effective methods of clinically developed research, allowing for effective methods of treatment and intervention.
