Recent advances in the genetics of severe childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity is becoming a global epidemic. Twin studies suggest a heritability of fat mass, and disorders of energy balance that arise from genetic defects have been identified. In the past three years, five single gene disorders resulting in early onset obesity have been characterised. The discovery of these genetic defects has biological and clinical implications which are greater than the rarity of the individual diseases might suggest.
Farooqi
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University Departments of Medicine and Clinical Biochemistry, Box 157, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK. ifarooqi@hgmp.mrc.ac.uk
O'Rahilly
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D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020738:Leptin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000502:physiology; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin