Gene prompts cells to store fat, fueling obesity

Gene prompts cells to store fat, fueling obesity

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- DURHAM, N.C. -- Obesity is often attributed to a simple equation: People are eating too much and exercising too little. But evidence is growing that at least some of the weight gain that plagues modern humans is predetermined.

New research from the Research Triangle suggests that variants in a gene called ankyrin-B -- carried by millions of Americans -- could cause people to put on pounds through no fault of their own.

The study, which was conducted in mice, shows that the gene variation causes fat cells to suck up glucose faster than normal, more than doubling their size. When an aging metabolism or high-fat diet is added to the equation, obesity becomes all but inevitable.

“We call it fault-free obesity,” said Vann Bennett, M.D., Ph.D., senior author of the study and George …

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(2017-12-02), Gene prompts cells to store fat, fueling obesity, Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week, 1158, ISSN: 1532-4664, BUTTER® ID: 014744731