Archive · 4 Nov 2025
Genes Play Significant Role in Weight Loss Struggles, Study Finds
Imagine your body is like a house being built.
Sometimes, the blueprints (your genes) have small mistakes or extra instructions that make it easier for the house to get messy (gain weight) or harder to clean up (lose weight).
This study found some new mistakes and instructions in our genes that explain why some people gain weight easily and find it hard to lose it, even if they eat healthy and exercise.
It's not always just about what you eat or how much you move; your genes play a big part too.
The study looked at lots of people from different backgrounds, including people from South Asia.
It showed that having a few big genetic mistakes or many small ones can both increase your chance of becoming overweight.
Even if you have these genetic predispositions, healthy eating and exercise still help!
Knowing about these genes could help doctors find people at risk earlier and give them personalized advice in the future.
A new international study in Nature Communications identified five new genes linked to body mass index (BMI) and metabolic disease risk.
The research involved over 800,000 individuals from six continental ancestries, highlighting the importance of diverse genetic data.
The study found that both rare, high-impact gene variants and the cumulative effect of many small genetic variations contribute to obesity.
Individuals with high-impact rare variants and a high polygenic risk score for BMI have a significantly increased likelihood of obesity.
Findings suggest that genetic factors play a substantial role in weight gain and weight loss difficulties, complementing lifestyle and diet influences.
- Who
- An international research team
- What
- Discovered five previously unreported genes linked to body mass index (BMI) and metabolic disease risk, and identified an interplay between rare gene variants and polygenic burden in obesity.
- When
- The study was published in Nature Communications.
- Where
- The research analyzed data from individuals across six continental ancestries, including South Asians.
- Why
- To understand the genetic factors contributing to obesity and weight loss struggles, particularly in diverse populations like India.
- Study Publication
- Nature Communications
- Number of Participants
- Over 800,000 adults
- Ancestries Included
- Six continental ancestries, including South Asians
- Newly Identified Genes Linked to BMI
- RIF1, YLPM1, GIGYF1, SLC5A3, GRM7
- Known Genes Linked to BMI
- MC4R, PCSK1
- Associated Diseases
- Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart failure