Published 11.12.08

Scientists have discovered that children with the obesity gene, FTO, are more likely to select fattening foods.  The research team from the universities of Brighton, Dundee, St Andrews and Glasgow Caledonian, presents its results in this week’s edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

In 2007 researchers discovered that people with the FTO obesity gene mutation were more likely to have more body fat, but didn’t know how the gene worked.

This latest study looked at school children aged five to nine years from the Tayside area of Scotland and measured energy expenditure, amount of body fat, exercise and eating behaviour.

The team found that carriers of the FTO gene did not have significantly different metabolic rates or measures of physical activity (exercise activity was low independent of the gene type), to those who did not have the gene mutation. There was also no evidence that individuals carrying the obesity gene had any differences in satiety (knowing when to stop eating in terms of quantity of food).

The gene was however linked to carriers eating on average an extra 100 calories at a single meal, and this was because the individuals selected more fattening foods. This work is consistent with studies in animals which shows that this gene is turned on and off during feeding in the regions of the brain that control eating behaviour.

Dr Peter Watt, from the University of Brighton said: "This work arose from a BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) research grant aimed at understanding the genetic mechanisms that determine body composition. The research showed that children with the FTO gene mutation were more likely to eat more calories at meal time and did not have slower metabolism."

"These findings reinforce the view that increases in obesity, measured in many populations across the world, may be attributable to the widespread availability of inexpensive and high energy-dense foods. Such foods may then be more attractive to the large proportion of the population who carry this genetic variant. We have been able to show that the effects are seen at an early age and may contribute to the increases in childhood obesity measured in many studies. However, the news is not all bad as obesity linked to this gene may be modulated by careful dietary control, better education and awareness of food alongside other initiatives in improving physical activity and exercise." 

Note to editors:
The paper entitled: An Obesity-associated Variant in the FTO Gene and Increased Energy Intake in Children, will be published in the New England Journal of Medicine.