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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Int'l genetic study predicts childhood obesity risk using Indian data
Cleared: dk Hyderabad: In a major study, an international team of over 600 scientists from 500 institutions developed a genetic test — polygenic risk score (PRS) — which can predict adult obesity as early as age five. The study analysed data from over five million (50 lakh) individuals worldwide, with significant representation from India. Scientists from city-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) played a key role in characterising the genomes of Indian individuals, including those monitored for diabetes over the long term. The south Asian data shaped PRS, making the findings especially relevant to the Indian context, where obesity-related disorders like diabetes and cardiovascular disease are on the rise. The tool, shown to be twice as effective as previous models, offers the potential for early lifestyle interventions in genetically high-risk children. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad CCMB researchers on Tuesday said that obesity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, poor bone health, reproductive problems, and cancers. Scientists worldwide worked with the largest and most diverse genetic dataset ever assembled, which included genetic data from the GIANT consortium and the consumer DNA testing company 23andMe. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo In a statement, CCMB said: "The PRS discovery could help identify children and adolescents already at higher genetic risk of developing obesity, who could benefit from targeted preventative strategies such as lifestyle interventions at a younger age. Additionally, this score is twice as effective as the previous best test at predicting a person's risk of developing obesity." "What makes the score so powerful is its ability to predict, around the age of five, whether a child is likely to develop obesity in adulthood — well before other risk factors start to shape their weight later in childhood. Intervening at this point can have a huge impact," University of Copenhagen's NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) assistant professor Roelof Smit, who is the lead author of the research published in the journal 'Nature Medicine', said. Indian Representation in the Study The pattern of obesity in India differs notably from that in Europe, with Indians tending to have more central (abdominal) obesity. Earlier studies by Dr Giriraj Ratan Chandak at CCMB showed that the genetic basis of non-communicable diseases varies significantly between Indians and Europeans. In the latest study, researchers at CCMB, led by Dr Chandak, characterised the genomes of the Indian population, including individuals with diabetes as well as those with normal blood glucose levels. These individuals were followed for nearly 20 years, providing a unique opportunity to investigate the genetic basis of obesity in Indians. Several obesity-associated genetic changes were identified and used to develop PRS for Indians, effectively creating a "virtual individual" to model obesity risk. The Indian data served as a representative subset for the South Asian population in the global study, making the findings more applicable to India and neighbouring countries. The researchers also examined the link between a person's genetic risk of obesity and the effectiveness of lifestyle-based weight-loss interventions, such as diet and exercise. They found that individuals with a higher genetic risk of obesity responded better to interventions — but also tended to regain weight more quickly once those interventions ended. The study further highlights the role of population ancestry in predicting obesity risk. Despite using a globally representative dataset, PRS performed more accurately in individuals of European ancestry than in those of other ancestries, including South Asians. Many gene variants associated with obesity in Europeans do not have the same effect in Indians, reflecting the unique pattern of obesity observed in the Indian population. "The observations made in this study are consistent with our earlier findings," Dr Chandak noted.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New tool can predict which children are likely to become obese
Scientists have developed a new tool which can predict a child's risk of becoming obese in adulthood. The test could help to identify children and adolescents who would benefit from targeted preventative strategies, like diet and exercise, at a younger age. The new test, which analyses DNA from a blood sample, is thought to be twice as effective at predicting obesity as the previous best test. As well as identifying children at risk of obesity, it can also predict how well obese adults will respond to targeted weight loss programmes. 'What makes the score so powerful is its ability to predict, before the age of five, whether a child is likely to develop obesity in adulthood, well before other risk factors start to shape their weight later in childhood. Intervening at this point can have a huge impact,' said Assistant Professor Roelof Smit from the University of Copenhagen and lead author of the research published in the journal Nature Medicine. Obesity is a major and chronic problem around the world that is only growing. A disease characterized by excessive fat accumulation, people with obesity are also more likely to have numerous health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The World Obesity Federation expects more than half the global population to become overweight or obese by 2035. A groundbreaking new tool from international researchers aims to predict future obesity during childhood. Tens of millions are affected by the chronic condition around the world (Getty/iStock) In England, almost 65 per cent of adults over the age of 18 are overweight or obese, while around one in eight children aged between two and 10 in England are obese, according to the NHS. In the U.S., some two in five adults and one in five children and adolescents have obesity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it affects some groups more than others, including non-Hispanic Black adults and adults with less education. Although there are ways of tackling obesity, such as through diet, exercise, surgery and medication, these options are not always available and do not work for everyone. Research for the study involved a collaboration with the consumer genetics and research company 23andMe, and the contributions of more than 600 scientists from 500 institutions globally. Traits such as human height and body mass index were noted and gathered in the data. Subtle variations in our genetics can impact our health, including the likelihood of developing obesity and even our appetite, experts say. Scientists drew on the genetic data of more than five million people – the largest and most diverse genetic dataset ever (Getty/iStock) Thousands of genetic variants have been identified that increase the risk of obesity, influencing appetite. To determine a child's future risk of obesity, the researchers developed a scoring system, known as a 'polygenic risk score.' To score patients, the new system adds the effects of these risk variants up. The researchers said it was able to explain nearly a fifth of a person's variation in body mass index. To create the score, the scientists drew on the genetic data of more than five million people – the largest and most diverse genetic dataset ever. They then tested the new risk score for obesity on datasets of the physical and genetic characteristics of more than 500,000 people. "This new polygenic score is a dramatic improvement in predictive power and a leap forward in the genetic prediction of obesity risk, which brings us much closer to clinically useful genetic testing," said Professor Ruth Loos from CBMR at the University of Copenhagen. It assessed the relationship between a person's genetic risk of obesity and the impact of lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise. Scientists found that those with a higher genetic risk of obesity were more responsive to interventions, but they also gained weight quickly once those interventions ended. However, the new test does have its limitations. Despite drawing on the genetics of the global population, it was far better at predicting obesity in people with European ancestry than in people with African ancestry. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New tool can predict which children are likely to become obese
Scientists have developed a new tool which can predict a child's risk of becoming obese in adulthood. The test could help to identify children and adolescents who would benefit from targeted preventative strategies, like diet and exercise, at a younger age. The new test, which analyses DNA from a blood sample, is thought to be twice as effective at predicting obesity as the previous best test. As well as identifying children at risk of obesity, it can also predict how well obese adults will respond to targeted weight loss programmes. 'What makes the score so powerful is its ability to predict, before the age of five, whether a child is likely to develop obesity in adulthood, well before other risk factors start to shape their weight later in childhood. Intervening at this point can have a huge impact,' said Assistant Professor Roelof Smit from the University of Copenhagen and lead author of the research published in the journal Nature Medicine. Obesity is a major and chronic problem around the world that is only growing. A disease characterized by excessive fat accumulation, people with obesity are also more likely to have numerous health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The World Obesity Federation expects more than half the global population to become overweight or obese by 2035. A groundbreaking new tool from international researchers aims to predict future obesity during childhood. Tens of millions are affected by the chronic condition around the world (Getty/iStock) In England, almost 65 per cent of adults over the age of 18 are overweight or obese, while around one in eight children aged between two and 10 in England are obese, according to the NHS. In the U.S., some two in five adults and one in five children and adolescents have obesity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it affects some groups more than others, including non-Hispanic Black adults and adults with less education. Although there are ways of tackling obesity, such as through diet, exercise, surgery and medication, these options are not always available and do not work for everyone. Research for the study involved a collaboration with the consumer genetics and research company 23andMe, and the contributions of more than 600 scientists from 500 institutions globally. Traits such as human height and body mass index were noted and gathered in the data. Subtle variations in our genetics can impact our health, including the likelihood of developing obesity and even our appetite, experts say. Scientists drew on the genetic data of more than five million people – the largest and most diverse genetic dataset ever (Getty/iStock) Thousands of genetic variants have been identified that increase the risk of obesity, influencing appetite. To determine a child's future risk of obesity, the researchers developed a scoring system, known as a 'polygenic risk score.' To score patients, the new system adds the effects of these risk variants up. The researchers said it was able to explain nearly a fifth of a person's variation in body mass index. To create the score, the scientists drew on the genetic data of more than five million people – the largest and most diverse genetic dataset ever. They then tested the new risk score for obesity on datasets of the physical and genetic characteristics of more than 500,000 people. "This new polygenic score is a dramatic improvement in predictive power and a leap forward in the genetic prediction of obesity risk, which brings us much closer to clinically useful genetic testing," said Professor Ruth Loos from CBMR at the University of Copenhagen. It assessed the relationship between a person's genetic risk of obesity and the impact of lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise. Scientists found that those with a higher genetic risk of obesity were more responsive to interventions, but they also gained weight quickly once those interventions ended. However, the new test does have its limitations. Despite drawing on the genetics of the global population, it was far better at predicting obesity in people with European ancestry than in people with African ancestry.
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Powys County Times
New tool can identify children who are likely to become obese in adulthood
A tool which can measure a child's risk of becoming obese in later life has been created by scientists. It is hoped that the new resource will one day mean that those at highest risk will get targeted support to prevent them from becoming obese in the first place. The tool, which assesses a person's genetic risk of obesity, works twice as well as any other obesity risk predictor, academics said. As well as identifying children at risk of obesity, it can also predict how well obese adults will respond to targeted weight loss programmes. Academics used detail on genetic variations from more than five million people to create a tool called a polygenic risk score, which analyses people's genetics to work out their risk of developing obesity. The tool could explain 17.6% of variation in body mass index score (BMI) from people in the UK, they found. Researchers, led by academics at the universities of Copenhagen and Bristol, tested whether the risk score was associated with obesity using datasets of the physical and genetic characteristics of more than 500,000 people. This included checking the tool on people taking part in the 'Children of the 90s' study – a long-term study in Bristol tracking families as children age. They found that it could successfully predict weight gain during childhood – from the age of just two and a half – through to adolescence. 'Overall, these data show that polygenic scores have the potential to improve obesity prediction, particularly when implemented early in life,' the authors wrote in the journal, Nature Medicine. Lead author of the research, assistant professor Roelof Smit from the University of Copenhagen, said: 'What makes the score so powerful is the consistency of associations between the genetic score and body mass index before the age of five and through to adulthood – timing that starts well before other risk factors start to shape their weight later in childhood. 'Intervening at this point could theoretically make a huge impact.' He told the PA news agency that BMI is not a good predictor for a child's obesity risk in later life but the genetic predictor can offer insight into the risk from early years. #BetterHealth offers a range of free NHS apps to help people eat better and get active, including the NHS Weight Loss Plan app. Data shows it can help people lose 5.8kg on average over just 12 weeks. Find out more: — NHS London (@NHSEnglandLDN) July 25, 2023 'Essentially it's fixed at conception already very early in life, you're able to essentially quantify what someone's innate predisposition is for BMI,' he said. 'So, being able to say something about someone's innate biology for obesity risk.' Meanwhile, the research team also looked at people taking part in 'intensive lifestyle intervention' programmes. People with a higher risk score lost more weight, but were also more likely to regain it. Prof Smit added: 'There is a huge amount of variation in how people respond to these interventions. 'What we observed was the higher someone's score was, the more they tended to respond to the intervention – people who had a higher score tended to lose more weight in the first year. 'And we also saw that people who had the higher scores tended to gain more weight.' Dr Kaitlin Wade, associate professor in epidemiology at the University of Bristol and second author on the paper, said: 'Obesity is a major public health issue, with many factors contributing to its development, including genetics, environment, lifestyle and behaviour. 'These factors likely vary across a person's life, and we believe that some of these originate in childhood. 'We were delighted to contribute data from the Children of the 90s study to this exceptional and insightful research into the genetic architecture of obesity. 'We hope this work will contribute to detecting individuals at high risk of developing obesity at an earlier age, which could have a vast clinical and public health impact in the future.' In 2022, some 64% of adults in England were estimated to be overweight or living with obesity. Last week, MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee launched a review into how the Government is tackling the nation's obesity epidemic. It comes after ministers pledged to 'launch a moonshot to end the obesity epidemic' in the one-year plan to improve the health of the nation.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
New tool can predict which children are likely to become obese
Scientists have developed a new tool which can predict a child's risk of becoming obese in adulthood. The test could help to identify children and adolescents who could benefit from targeted preventative strategies, like diet and exercise, at a younger age. The new test, which analyses DNA from a blood sample, is thought to be twice as effective at predicting obesity as the previous best test. As well as identifying children at risk of obesity, it can also predict how well obese adults will respond to targeted weight loss programmes. 'What makes the score so powerful is its ability to predict, before the age of five, whether a child is likely to develop obesity in adulthood, well before other risk factors start to shape their weight later in childhood. Intervening at this point can have a huge impact,' said Assistant Professor Roelof Smit from the University of Copenhagen and lead author of the research published in Nature Medicine. The World Obesity Federation expects more than half the global population to become overweight or obese by 2035. In England, almost 65 per cent of adults over the age of 18 are overweight or obese, while around one in eight children aged between two and 10 in England are obese, according to the NHS. Although there are ways of tackling obesity, such as through diet, exercise, surgery and medication, these options are not always available and do not work for everyone. Research for the study involved a collaboration with the consumer genetics and research company 23andMe, and the contributions of more than 600 scientists from 500 institutions globally. Traits such as human height and body mass index were noted and gathered in the data. Subtle variations in our genetics can impact our health, including the likelihood of developing obesity and even our appetite, experts say. A polygenic risk score is like a calculator that combines the effects of the different risk variants that a person carries and provides an overall score. To create the score, the scientists drew on the genetic data of more than five million people – the largest and most diverse genetic dataset ever. They then tested the new risk score for obesity on datasets of the physical and genetic characteristics of more than 500,000 people. "This new polygenic score is a dramatic improvement in predictive power and a leap forward in the genetic prediction of obesity risk, which brings us much closer to clinically useful genetic testing," said Professor Ruth Loos from CBMR at the University of Copenhagen. It assessed the relationship between a person's genetic risk of obesity and the impact of lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise. Scientists found that those with a higher genetic risk of obesity were more responsive to interventions, but they also gained weight quickly once those interventions ended. However, the new test does have its limitations. Despite drawing on the genetics of the global population, it was far better at predicting obesity in people with European ancestry than in people with African ancestry.
