Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

The My Overweight Child blog will help you keep informed about the latest research, findings, and resources available to parents of overweight or obese kids. There are many knowledgeable people working on the increasingly dire problem of childhood obesity - and we want to give parents a place where they can check in regularly to see the latest studies and tips available to help you help your child lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

We invite you to add your comments - if you have feedback for the blog, would like some specific topics covered, or you just want to share your experience as a parent dealing with childhood obesity.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Missing DNA Blamed for Extreme Obesity

Researchers with the School of Public Health at Imperial College London has found a genetic link to morbid obesity. Rather than mutated genes, however, researchers have discovered that a section of DNA is missing altogether.

A Feb. 8 report on MedicineNet.com provided the following details about the study:
  • In the study, published in Nature, researchers first identified the missing genes in teenagers and adults who had learning difficulties or delayed development.
  • The results showed 31 people had nearly identical deletions in one copy of their DNA.
  • All of the adults with this genetic variation had a BMI over 30, which means they were obese.
The condition is rare, occurring in just seven of every 1,000 people, and seems to be linked with the onset of overweight and obesity in childhood.

Labels: genetics, obese-kids, morbid obesity

Posted By: Aspen/CRC