Normal Weight Children with FTO Gene Variant Eat More than Peers

Children who have a variance at the FTO gene (also known as the obesity gene), unconsciously, consume more calories than their peers. Overtime these extra calories create a risk of becoming overweight or obese, especially when there is a reduction in physical activity. Studies involving normal weight children have shown that those children with a homozygous FTO gene variant overeat by 128 calories per day. Knowledge of a child's genetic predisposition may enable parents to provide educational and behavioral support to their child which may lead to better control over food consumption and maintenance of a healthy weight.

First published: 22 May 2019

https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.22464

Image credit: "Teen and childhood obesity" by Gaulsstin is licensed under CC BY 2.0