Obesity: the year of birth would be a risk factor
Several well-known factors promote the risk associated with obesity, genetics being one of them, for example. In connection with genetics, American researchers have shown in a new study that the year of birth would play a role in gauging a person’s predisposition to obesity.
The involvement of a “variant” of the FTO gene ( fat-mass and Obesity associated )
A variant of the FTO gene has been identified as a predisposing element to obesity, due to its action in the burning of fat. Initially, the FTO gene makes it possible to “secret” an enzyme. But certain variants of this FTO gene can predispose to obesity (demonstration made in a study by Ruth JF Loos published in November 2013).
However, a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (1) explains the importance of the patient’s year of birth in the evaluation of the risk linked to obesity. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in the USA interpreted and analyzed the results of a study conducted over more than 30 years (from 1971 to 2008), including participants aged 27 to 63, all carriers of the FTO gene.
According to their results, and the data collected, such as the BMI ( Body Mass Index, you can calculate yours by clicking here ), or the genetic heritage, the researchers established a link between the year of birth and the risk associated with obesity, and found that the association of the FTO gene and obesity is twice as high in subjects born after 1942.
The study’s lead author, Dr. James Niels Rosenquist, describes ” that the correlation between the obesity-associated gene variant and body mass index increased as the participant’s year of birth increased. “.
A responsible lifestyle change after 1945
The main cause mentioned concerns a change in lifestyle after the Second World War . As the study was carried out over too long a period, it remains impossible to take into account and identify the environmental factors also contributing to this conclusion.
” We know that the environment plays a very big role in the expression of genes ” explains Doctor Rosenquit. In addition, the researchers highlight in particular technological advances, as well as a reduction in physical work , or even the sale of new processed food products and promoting overweight.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.