Genes linked to obesity in black patients

Obesity is when you weigh too much relative to your height. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on weight and height. A person with a BMI greater than 30 is considered “obese.” A person with a BMI between 25 and 30 is overweight. More than 2 out of every 10 people worldwide are overweight or obese. In the United States, obesity is more common in minority groups. We are not sure why. Studies have found several genes linked to obesity. But most of these studies were done in white people. Few studies have looked for links between BMI and genes in minorities. Using BioVU, this project will look for genes linked to BMI in black patients. The results may tell us if different genes influence obesity in blacks and whites. This could help us to find better ways to prevent or treat obesity.