Genetic Predisposition To Disease Essay

Genes control almost every aspect of human life, and when it comes to weight there is no exception. Little is known, however, how much of an individual’s genes actually control the weight of certain individuals. Body fat can vary from person to person, yet some people have always carried more weight than others. Often times, when one person is overweight in the family, most of the other individuals in the same family are overweight as well. However, more than just genetics can go into being overweight, and a person’s genes are not the end all be all of obesity. Many times the environment surrounding people who are obese contributes to the overall weight of the individual, and when obesity promoting genes are mixed

Obesity has been linked to genetics. It has been researched and proven that children with parents who are obese, would have between 5-25% chance of likely inheriting genes that would eventually make them obese. However, genes is not an excuse for obesity because it does not work alone but must have the right factors present to manifest.

The Physiological Theory of Obesity draws a distinctive link between overweight parents, and the possibility of their children being overweight. It has been recorded that if one parent is obsess, then the child of that parent has a forty percent chance of being obese. If both parents are obese, the change of the child being obese jumps to 80 percent. The clear connection between a parents’ weight and a child’s chance of becoming overweight is alarming. While one cannot infer causation from correlation, the statistics may point to the

Based on the article, being overweight and obese run in the family, “genes also may affect the amount of fat you store in your body and where on your body you carry the extra fat.” (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute). Although genes may play a part as a cause, the article suggests that if the family were to pick up healthy eating and exercise habits then the probability of their children being obese decreases. Health conditions can also play a part in causing obesity, mainly hormone problems, such as, underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), Cushing’s syndrome, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). (National Heart, Lung, and Blood

After breaking down the components of the biopsychosocial model in respect to childhood obesity, the literature contained some strengths and weaknesses. In the past, heredity and environmental factors were known to operate separately, however research indicates that genes affect psychological and social factors, promoting the biopsychosocial model. The Human Obesity Gene Map, published in 1994 provided research regarding the origin of obesity to mutations in genes, disorders, obesity phenotypes, or heredity. This collection of specific genes is annually updated and provides current information regarding obesity. This is a strength to the ongoing research of the etiology of obesity and how it may cause other

The basic aim of the paper is to carry out research work on the social concern which I have selected obesity. The topic of obesity has been selected because it has become a major social concern of the United States as well as other industrialized countries. Information related to the research of obesity will be helpful for determining major causes and adverse consequences which are associated with obesity in the U.S. This topic was selected with the hopes in finding effective ways which can be used for preventing the ever increasing numbers of obesity in the world. While a lot of people try to blame children, and even adults, being overweight and obese on genetics, that does not play as crucial of a role as people try to make it sounds. Some

A person is more likely to develop obesity if one or both parents are overweight. Numerous people are obese because of their family history. The reason why genetics can contribute to the obesity issue is because they can change and affect hormones that control the fat cells. “For example, one genetic cause of obesity is Leptin deficiency. Leptin is a hormone produced in fat cells and also in the placenta. Leptin controls weight by signaling the brain to eat less when body fat stores are too high. If, for some reason, the body cannot produce enough leptin or leptin cannot signal the brain to eat less, this control is lost, and obesity occurs” (R.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and developing countries. Although the trend of decreased physical activity and increased caloric intake is probably responsible for the recent rise in obesity, it is important to understand that these trends are playing out on a background of genetic variation in the population. Each individual's genetic background remains an important determinant of susceptibility to obesity. Discovery of the genes involved in the development of common forms of obesity, thereby identifying pathways that are causal in patients, will guide clinicians and scientists in designing more effective therapies and in identifying high-risk individuals for early intervention.

While the significance of the environmental determinants has been discussed as a determinant in obesity, cultural factors also play a role in the complex issues of obesity. Cultural customs and values vary considerably between countries such as in Tonga where larger women are considered ideal, whereas in Japan women are expected to have a small body frame (Swinburn, et al., 2011). Cultural determinants around smoking can interlink with environmental determinants that can affect unborn children and their inherent risk of obesity. Studies have shown that epigenetics can modify the expression of our genetic material and increase the risk of becoming obese (Rhee, Phelan & McCaffery 2012). Therefor the environment surrounding the foetus and the cultural determinants of obesity can play a role in a child’s in-built risk of being obese and therefore not an individual determent for that child.

Noted by the Research Chair in Obesity from Université Laval (n.d.), “obesity risk is two to eight times higher for a person with a family history as opposed to a person with no family history of obesity, and an even higher risk is observed in cases of severe obesity.” (Université Laval, n.d., n.p.) It is not only genetics though as you can see in the previous paragraphs. If someone is brought up eating unhealthy and exercising less, this chain pattern will continue and the main cause to this would be our parents. The way that you and your family eat now is more than likely the way the generation before ate because it's what they grew up eating and continued to eat when they became an

What makes obesity’s heredity particularly hard to study is that it can be tough to make out whether someone inherited the tendency to be overweight but there is no gene for obesity, or if it is diet and lifestyle habits that are likely to make a person gain weight. Families tend to develop a lot of the same eating habits (Hillary Wright).

A person’s genetic makeup also plays a part in their weight, or a change in it. Commonly referred to as one’s metabolism, research under the NIH suggests that “[...] human obesity may be influenced by behaviors that are themselves genetically regulated” (para. 1). For example, someone may burn calories quicker than another as a result of genetic makeup, resulting in a lower weight. The inverse may also occur. Despite its influence, genetics do not give an excuse for an unhealthy weight in many cases; according to the Harvard School of Public Health, “Rather than being obesity’s sole cause, genes seem to increase the risk of weight gain and interact with other risk factors in the environment, such as unhealthy diets and inactive lifestyles” (para. 4).

Moving from a genetic predisposition to obesity itself usually requires an adjustment in an individual’s eating habits, regime, or other environmental factors. Having a better grasp of what contributes to the genetics of obesity, especially common obesity-and gene-environment relations, will produce a better understanding of the pathways that lead to obesity. Such data could someday produce favorable tactics for obesity treatment and prevention. But it’s imperative to remember that generally, the impact of genes to obesity possibility is minor, while the influence of our activity environment and toxic food is enormous. As one scientist wrote, “Genes may co-determine who becomes obese, but our environment determines how many become obese.” (20) Which is why obesity prevention efforts must be at the forefront on changing our environment to make healthier choices and stress-free choices, for

The topic that I have chosen to look at is obesity. The aim of this topic is to find out whether “the ignorance of genetics as a contra factor of obesity”. I have chosen to look at this topic because obesity is concerns me. Obesity has always been a bid debate for a long time now and I was intrigued to find out more about the topic and the cause of obesity. The fact that obesity has made deadlines news in recent years. There are a lot of misconceptions about obesity such as overweight is caused by a sow metabolism. There have been a lot of beliefs and myths about obesity in society today and he above myths is on of them. According to Donnellan (1998) ‘ ‘people who are overweight have told their doctors that they eat no more and

Everybody knows the child that can eat any type of food all day and never seem to gain weight. This occurrence has led researchers to investigate the role that genetics plays in childhood obesity. Not all children who are inactive or who eat poorly are obese, much in the same way that some obese children eat fairly healthy, and exercise moderately. Heredity has recently been shown to influence body fat percentage, regional fat storage, and the body?s response to overeating (Rush, 1). Children who have obese parents are 80% more likely to be obese than their lean parented counterparts (Buffington, 16). This familial correlation is contributed to genetics as well as the parents eating habits. Children with obese parents typically aren?t taught the correct way to choose when and what food to eat, leading to poor eating habits and eventually obesity. Many genetic defects can have a significant effect on obesity such as variable thyroid activity and pituitary defects. Abnormalities in any one of these regulators could be responsible for appetite abnormalities and weight gain. Furthermore, obesity leads to defects in appetite regulation, hormone production, and metabolic events (Oklahoma Cooperative, 4) that are responsible for further weight gain,