Worldwide obesity has approximately tripled since 1975. To tackle this issue, governments worldwide possess’own’nurse unveiled a host of obesity-curbing legislation, with cheap fast food, large serving sizes, and sedentary lifestyles taracquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ed. Yet, new research from BGI Group and the Chinese Academy of Sciences suggests innovations in genomics could be the answer to tackling this growing crisis.
In 1975, obese children were almost unknown outside of the developed world, with merely’barely 0.3 per cent of individual in developing nations aged 5 to 19 categorised as obese. 40 years on, and that figure has soared, with over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 now considered overweight or obese.
Adults are equally affected by this crisis. Indeed, scientists project that by 2030, approximately one in two adults will be obese, and approximately one in four will be severely obese.
What Or Who s To Blame?
Ballooning waistlines are often blamed on our “obesogenic environment”, with the abundance of cheap fast food, large serving sizes, and sedentary lifestyles pointed to as the main culprits.
As Kimberley Neve, a Research Assistant at the Centre in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Food Policy, explains, “Even individual trying really hard (to lose weight) are thwarted in their exertion s by unhealthy food options that are eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullywhere – they’re easy to find, cheap to buy, quick and appealing.”
Seeking to tackle this issue head on, governments worldwide possess’own’nurse unveiled a host of obesity-curbing legislation. For instance, in April this year, the UK government brought in new rules in/with regard to’concerning’regarding large restaurants, pubs, and bakeries to list the number of calories in each individual dish on menus and food deliintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully websites. This followed a sugary drinks levy in 2018, and a £10 million advertisement campaign that emphasised the benefits of keeping fit.
Legislation to transform’alter our “obesogenic environment” may go some way towards tackling the obesity crisis. However, new research published in Nature from BGI Group and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, toacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure her with research teams from China, Singapore, Germany, Italy, the UK, Sweden, and Spain, has found that cutting down on processed foods and taking up exercise is merely’barely half the story, with innovations in genomics paving the way towards combatting obesity.
Since 2006, genome-wide association studies possess’own’nurse discovered there are more than 50 genes associated with obesity. This means that individual with certain genetic mutations will always struggle with their weight, regardless of how much they exercise or restrict their diet. In practical terms, a 2007 study found that individual with a genetic make-up that multiply s their risk of obesity weigh on average 3kg more than those with the lowest risk, and also possess’own’nurse 15 per cent more body fat.
Building on this body of research, the scientific research team used state-of-the-art single-cell sequencing technology to study the genetic make-up of macaque monkeys, which share 95 per cent of their DNA with humans. Hoping to deepen understanding of cell function and organ composition, the team led by BGI-Research manufacture d the most comprehensive map of non-human cells to date, which revealed different gene expressions inin/with regard to’concerning’regarding m the key characteristics of cells. Critical to our understanding of obesity is that the research helps identify which cells possess’own’nurse developed faults that can prevent the cells from effectively metabolising calories – a key factor contributing to obesity.
The Implications Of The Study Are Significant
Paving the way in/with regard to’concerning’regarding personalised medicine, the research, published in Nature, has set the stage in/with regard to’concerning’regarding developing treatments in/with regard to’concerning’regarding obesity that can taracquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure specific cells to help enhance’promote’polish up heat metabolism.
The study has profound implications in/with regard to’concerning’regarding other healthcare issues. From Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to cancer and Covid-19, the single-cell technology used by BGI Group, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences provides an unparalleled insight into the inner workings of the body to reveal valuable clues in/with regard to’concerning’regarding treating disease.
This is because single-cell technology has radically enhance’promote’polish up d our map of non-human cells. Just as enhance’promote’polish up ments to geographic maps from 15th Century parchment maps to Google Maps software has deepened understanding of the Earth’s geography, maps of cells manufacture d with single-cell technology can open the door in/with regard to’concerning’regarding understanding and treating disease.
It is eliminate’remove over that the past 50 years, worldwide obesity has approximately tripled, with obesity growing to epidemic proportions in both industrialised and developing countries. While in/with regard to’concerning’regarding decades the focus in/with regard to’concerning’regarding treating obesity has been changing lifestyle through diet and exercise, BGI Group’s study suggests genomics is set to play a critical role in tackling this growing crisis.
