Advertisement

New 'fat' gene to help in fight against obesity

George Mills
George Mills - [email protected]
New 'fat' gene to help in fight against obesity
One in six Spaniards is obese

Scientists working in Spain, the US, and Canada have identified a 'fat gene' they say could play a key role in the fight against global obesity.

Advertisement

Previous studies have shown that a gene called FTO is vital in the development of obesity, a major worldwide health problem.

Now scientists have found a new piece of the puzzle. Rats with the so-called IRX3 gene don't get as fat when eating junk food, a study just published in the science journal Nature shows.

"Our data strongly suggest IRX3 controls body mass and regulates body composition," said study author Marcelo Nóbrega. 

"Any association between FTO and obesity appears due to the influence of IRX3," he added.

In their study, the researchers found that rats with the IRX3 gene had 25 to 30 percent less fat because of a loss of white fat and increased metabolic activity. The same link was also found in humans and zebrafish.

The researchers including a member of Seville's CABD research centre believe the new discovery could help in the development of drugs to fight obesity and diabetes.   

Global rates of obesity, or a body mass index of 30 or more, have nearly doubled since 1980, according to the World Health Organization. Some 1.4 billion adults were affected in 2008.

Obesity can lead to cardiovascular problems, diabetes, arthritis, and some cancers. 

Spain is the thirteenth most obese country in the world according to the WHO while an OECD update in 2012 reported one in six Spanish adults were obese.

Don't miss stories about Spain, join us on Facebook and Twitter.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also