Genetic mutations increase childhood obesity risk

Scientists claim to have discovered three new genetic mutations, which together can increase a child’s risk of obesity by 50 per cent.

A report published in the journal Nature Genetics today could potential provide new tools to predict which young children are at risk of becoming obese.

The study found three previously unidentified genetic variations that increase the risk of severe obesity significantly.

The mutation most strongly associated with childhood obesity and adult morbid obesity in the study is located near the PTER gene. Called rs10508503, children with such a transformation have a 34.1 per cent increased risk of obesity, while adults are 20.6 per cent more likely to be morbidly obese, according to the research.

Called rs1805081, the second metamorphosis is found in the NPC1 gene and was found to increase the risk of childhood obesity by 9.6 per cent and of adult morbid obesity by 13.6 per cent.

The final mutation, rs1424233, is found near the MAF gene. Children with the transformation have a 5.7 per cent increased risk of early-onset obesity and adults have a 16.1 per cent increased risk of becoming morbidly obese.

Scientists claim adults and children with all three mutations have around a 50 per cent increased risk of being morbidly obese or early onset obesity.