Answer To Your Fitness Questions" />Obesity Linked To Missing Gene In Brain
August 28, 2008
Fifty percent of the people researched in the study were missing one of two gense for a brain chemical called “brain-derived neurotrophic factor” (BDNF). Those missing the gene had low blood levels of the chemical. When the subjects turned 10 years old, all of those that were missing the gene were obese and reported strong tendencies towards overeating. Those who had both BDNF genes didn’t report any unusual tendencies than the general population.
Scientists in the study had suspicions that subjects within the group had abnormalities with the gene, and they believe a larger segment of the population has the same problem. The missing gene seems to explain why some people are not able to lose weight.
“We suspect that BDNF has important issues in many parts of the brain, including memory and ability to sense pain,” stated Jack Yanovski, head of the Unit on Growth and Obesity at NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Yanovski also says that the brain chemical works in combination with other chemicals in the body that regulates appetite and body weight.Â
“BDNF is just a small part of the puzzle explaining why some folks have trouble maintaining a normal weight.”
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