Gene-environment interaction and obesity

• Published in: Nutrition reviews Vol. 66; no. 12; pp. 684 - 694
• Main Authors: Lu, Qi, Cho, Young Ae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.12.2008; Wiley; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical trials; diet therapy; dietary fiber; Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage; disease control; disease incidence; disease prevention; energy intake; Energy Intake - physiology; Environment; epidemiological studies; Epidemiology; etiology; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; food choices; food intake; gene; genes; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; genetics; Genomics; genotype-environment interaction; human health; Humans; interaction; Life Style; lifestyle; literature reviews; Medical sciences; melanocyte-stimulating hormone; Metabolic diseases; nutritional intervention; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - etiology; Obesity - genetics; Obesity - prevention & control; physical activity; physiology; prevention & control; psychosocial factors; Public health; Risk Factors; Sieges; Studies; Human; Obesity; Gene; Gene interaction; Nutrition disorder; Risk factor; interaction; Environment; Review; Nutritional status; Feeding; Life style
• ISSN: 0029-6643; 1753-4887; 1753-4887
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00128.x

The epidemic of obesity has become a major public health problem. Common-form obesity is underpinned by both environmental and genetic factors. Epidemiological studies have documented that increased intakes of energy and reduced consumption of high-fiber foods, as well as sedentary lifestyle, were among the major driving forces for the epidemic of obesity. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified several genes convincingly related to obesity risk, including the fat mass and obesity associated gene and the melanocortin-4 receptor gene. Testing gene-environment interaction is a relatively new field. This article reviews recent advances in identifying the genetic and environmental risk factors (lifestyle and diet) for obesity. The evidence for gene-environment interaction, especially from observational studies and randomized intervention trials, is examined specifically. Knowledge about the interplay between genetic and environmental components may facilitate the choice of more effective and specific measures for obesity prevention based on the personalized genetic make-up.