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3d ago

Study Maps 205 Genetic Regions That Help Separate Obesity From Disease Risk

A variant-based score predicts higher body fat with fewer cardiometabolic red flags.

Worldwide adult obesity has more than doubled since 1990, and adolescent obesity has quadrupled, according to the WHO.
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Overview

  • An international team led by Mount Sinai and the University of Copenhagen reports the findings in Nature Medicine (DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03931-0).
  • The analysis of 452,768 UK Biobank participants identified variants associated with greater adiposity but healthier metabolic profiles.
  • Researchers derived a genetic score from these variants that correlates with increased obesity risk yet lower rates of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and heart disease.
  • Eight genetic obesity subtypes were defined, each tied to distinct health-risk patterns, with protective effects detectable in children.
  • The study draws primarily on European-ancestry data, and the authors call for replication in diverse populations while stressing that lifestyle remains crucial for health.