New gene regulating body weight discovered

A new study from the University of Rhode Island has isolated a gene that could play a key role in regulating body weight.

Pharmacy researchers led by Abraham Kovoor made the discovery when conducting a study into a brain protein called RGS9 2, which is related to the involuntary body movements affecting Parkinson's disease patients called dyskinesia.

When altering levels of RGS9 2 in rats in order to regulate levels of dyskinesia, the team found that it also had an effect on body fat, with those lacking RGS9 2 genes more likely to gain weight than those with over-expressed RGS9 2 protein levels.

Further analysis showed that these weight fluctuations were not related to the reward response triggered during eating, meaning the gene could be associated with a key metabolic process.

Mr Kovoor said: "Our research shows that the striatum, through RGS9 2, has a role in regulating body weight that is independent of the motivation, movement and reward responses."

In November 2011, a study from the University of Montreal suggested that obesity can be predicted in children as young as three-and-a-half by assessing key body mass criteria.