Genetic Determinants and Clinical Consequences of Early-onset Severe Obesity

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Obesity is a complex disorder with many contributing genetic and environmental factors. The genetic causes and mechanisms for severe childhood obesity are still incompletely understood. It is acknowledged that obesity in some individuals could be a consequence of rare genetic variants with strong ef...

Obesity is a complex disorder with many contributing genetic and environmental factors. The genetic causes and mechanisms for severe childhood obesity are still incompletely understood. It is acknowledged that obesity in some individuals could be a consequence of rare genetic variants with strong effect - these rare variants might be population specific. The aims of this study are to determine inheritance patterns of early-onset obesity new obesity-related genetic variants and disease-causing gene mutations the association between obesity-related genetic defects and clinical manifestations the association between obesity-related genetic defects and psychiatric symptoms in patients with early-onset obesity and their first-degree relatives Significant advancements in genetic methodology provide new tools to explore genetic defects underlying obesity. Family-based approach provides several advantages compared to cohort studies to investigate genetic determinants of complex diseases.The unique genetic composition of the Finnish population enables identification of novel genetic entities. Discovery of genetic defects associated with severe childhood-onset obesity will increase the investigators understanding of the pathogenesis of obesity and allows early detection, by genetic testing, of those at increased risk and optimal targeting of preventive measures.

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