Genetics of Adiposity and Obesity
Genetics of Adiposity and Obesity
What is Adiposity
Adiposity is the term for excess body fat or obesity. Obesity is a chronic condition that comes from being overweight. Obesity can be caused by overeating or genetic factors that impact weight loss. Body fat is normal but too much body fat can lead to changes in how the body functions. Those who are obese may experience difficulty breathing or pain in their joints and back. Obesity can also increase the risk of having different health problems. These problems can include:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
Obesity is often managed with a healthy diet and exercise plan. However, some people who are obese have a hard time maintaining a healthy routine overtime. Medicine for obesity is also limited.
How is the research done?
This research team wants to find new drug treatment and care plans for those experiencing obesity. The team will use BioVU resources to find genes related to obesity, mental health, and addiction. This may help find what’s common among people with a certain trait like obesity and mental illnesses. They will look at gene activity and proteins to find new genes that may be related to obesity. The team is also studying how drugs affect genes connected to obesity. This could help figure out which genes might be good targets for new obesity drugs. The team will also study the connection between obese linked genes and the brain. They want to know if certain obese genes traits will affect the brain because the brain plays a big role in controlling weight.