people who have all the newly discovered genes are likely to be 5lb overweight

Following on from the discovery of the FTO gene, scientists researching the possible genetic causes of obesity say that they have come across six undiscovered obesity genes which could be directly linked to eating habits. The scientists explained that the new genes were linked to making people eat more and not to their ability to digest fat.  This is important because it shows how the problem of obesity is very often a psychological and not a physical issue. Dr Ines Barroso who worked on the study said that five out of the six genes that they had discovered were thought to influence the brain as opposed to the body.

The six genes which have been named TMEM18, KCTD15, GNPDA2, SH2B1, MTCH2 and NEGR1 were discovered by examining the genes of more than 90,000 men and women and they saw that these genes were present more often in those people who had high Body Mass Index ratios.

Scientists, weight loss experts and nutritionists are increasingly coming around to the idea that much of the problem of obesity is to do with mental influences and much less to do with having a slow metabolism, dense fat tissue or weak muscles. In the future weight loss treatments are likely to be far more focused on behavioural controls as opposed to metabolic or appetite controls.

The results of this fascinating new study shows that a person who has all six of the newly discovered genes is likely to be 5lb. overweight compared to those people who did not have any of the genes.

The researchers are keen to continue their research into the genetic nature of obesity and say that it could be extremely effective in finding treatments to help obese individuals as well as understanding what causes the condition in the first place.

The research was published in full by the respected medical journal Nature Genetics.