Madhuri Raman
Mr. Mathieu
Period 2
January 14th, 2014
Author: Gina Kolata
Published: July 18th, 2013
Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/health/overweight-maybe-you-really-can-blame-your-metabolism.html?smid=pl-share
Summary
This article is about the discovery of a gene called MRAP2 that controls weight gain and how quickly calories are burned. It is a helper gene, sending signals from the brain to another gene that control's an individual's appetite. However, there are rare mutations of this gene that cause it to get "turned off" and leads to the organism gaining a lot of weight, even while on a normal diet. In one experiment, scientists kept two groups of mice on the same diet in order to compare their weights at the end of a given period of time. The first group of mice had the gene for the control of weight gain removed from their cells, but the other group of mice still possessed the gene. The scientists found that the group without the gene was getting fat, while the other group was not. This led them to believe that the presence of the MRAP2 gene determines a person's general weight, much more than the person's diet. Other researchers conducted a similar experiment in which they found that children without the gene gained weight, but still had normal appetites. But once the children matured into adults, their appetites grew tremendously. Now the question is, is this the cause of obesity?
Connection
This article directly relates to our studies of Heredity and Molecular Genetics throughout Term 2. In class, we learned a lot about inherited traits, and the article discusses how obesity and weight gain are a result of genes that have been passed down from generation to generation, not poor dietary habits. We also learned about the dangers that one could possibly face from having a gene mutation, although mutations are not always harmful. The rare mutation of the MRAP2 gene explained in the article is an excellent example of that. It was most probably the factor that has led to many cases of obesity in children, one of whom has already been found to have the mutation. All in all, the discovery of the gene controlling weight gain is important in understanding the actual causes of obesity.
Showing posts with label Obesity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obesity. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Pushing Kids to Eat May Cause Obesity Later
Val Wadas-Willingham
CNN Health
22 April, 2013
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/22/pushing-kids-to-eat-may-cause-obesity-later/
Summary:
We've all heard the phrase, "clean your plate," from our parents. However, recent data collected by investigators from studies conducted by the EAT and the F-EAT suggest otherwise. After examining 2,800 middle and high school students in Minnesota, investigators found that 50-60% of parents require their children to finish all the food on their plate and 30-40% encourage their children to finish their food even after the children have stated they are full. This parental pressure to finish the food has been shown to increase obesity and cause kids to be unhealthy. Because this behavior forces kids to eat more than they can handle and cause to to respond naturally to their hunger, kids are becoming more unhealthy. Also, restricting foods has also been proven to have a negative effect. Since parents don't give the restricted food to their children very often, this causes children to over eat whenever they are allowed to have the treat. In conclusion, this article tells parents that they should teach their kids to eat in moderation and make the right food choices rather than forcing them to eat only a certain type of food or forcing them to "clean their plate."
Connection:
This article relates to our study of the circulatory system. Obesity and being overweight is a major cause of high blood pressure, hypertension, and increased plaque build up in the arteries leading to a condition known as atherosclerosis. This condition can lead to heart attack or myocardial infarction in which case blood flow to the heart is severely or completely blocked causing heart muscles to die and the flow of blood throughout the body to slow. This in turn leads to the cells throughout our body to have a lack of nutrients and oxygen.
CNN Health
22 April, 2013
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/22/pushing-kids-to-eat-may-cause-obesity-later/
Summary:
We've all heard the phrase, "clean your plate," from our parents. However, recent data collected by investigators from studies conducted by the EAT and the F-EAT suggest otherwise. After examining 2,800 middle and high school students in Minnesota, investigators found that 50-60% of parents require their children to finish all the food on their plate and 30-40% encourage their children to finish their food even after the children have stated they are full. This parental pressure to finish the food has been shown to increase obesity and cause kids to be unhealthy. Because this behavior forces kids to eat more than they can handle and cause to to respond naturally to their hunger, kids are becoming more unhealthy. Also, restricting foods has also been proven to have a negative effect. Since parents don't give the restricted food to their children very often, this causes children to over eat whenever they are allowed to have the treat. In conclusion, this article tells parents that they should teach their kids to eat in moderation and make the right food choices rather than forcing them to eat only a certain type of food or forcing them to "clean their plate."
Connection:
This article relates to our study of the circulatory system. Obesity and being overweight is a major cause of high blood pressure, hypertension, and increased plaque build up in the arteries leading to a condition known as atherosclerosis. This condition can lead to heart attack or myocardial infarction in which case blood flow to the heart is severely or completely blocked causing heart muscles to die and the flow of blood throughout the body to slow. This in turn leads to the cells throughout our body to have a lack of nutrients and oxygen.
Obese women give birth to babies with lower vitamin D levels
http://www.naturalnews.com/038770_childbirth_obesity_vitamin_D.html
David Gutierrez
January 22, 2013
Summary: Recent studies have shown that obese women give birth to babies with lower vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is a fat soluble, so it tends to accumulate in fat, causing there to be less vitamin D in the blood. Researches have found that even if two women have the same amount of vitamin D levels, babies of non obese women have 3 times more vitamin D. They think this is because healthier women have more vitamin D in their bloodstream, where obese women have less. Therefore it is easier for healthy women to pass along vitamin D to their babies. Insufficient vitamin D levels in babies is bad for their health. Vitamin D is crucial to their bone growth and development, and to create a healthy immune system. Also not enough vitamin D can lead to a higher risk of obesity and autoimmune diseases down the road.
Connection: This connects largely to our study on the skeletal system. Vitamin D is very important for the development of bones from cartilage, and insufficient levels of vitamin D can lead to diseases like rickets and osteoporosis. The importance of nutrition and vitamins is shown in this article as well. Having healthy levels of vitamins, like vitamin D, is important for the functions and health of the body as a whole.
David Gutierrez
January 22, 2013
Summary: Recent studies have shown that obese women give birth to babies with lower vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is a fat soluble, so it tends to accumulate in fat, causing there to be less vitamin D in the blood. Researches have found that even if two women have the same amount of vitamin D levels, babies of non obese women have 3 times more vitamin D. They think this is because healthier women have more vitamin D in their bloodstream, where obese women have less. Therefore it is easier for healthy women to pass along vitamin D to their babies. Insufficient vitamin D levels in babies is bad for their health. Vitamin D is crucial to their bone growth and development, and to create a healthy immune system. Also not enough vitamin D can lead to a higher risk of obesity and autoimmune diseases down the road.
Connection: This connects largely to our study on the skeletal system. Vitamin D is very important for the development of bones from cartilage, and insufficient levels of vitamin D can lead to diseases like rickets and osteoporosis. The importance of nutrition and vitamins is shown in this article as well. Having healthy levels of vitamins, like vitamin D, is important for the functions and health of the body as a whole.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
What Mice Can Tell Us About Obesity and Genetics
Alexandra Sifferlin, TIME
Published on January 9, 2013
http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/09/what-mice-can-tell-us-about-obesity-and-genetics/
Summary
For more than two years, researchers at UCLA have observed and monitored weight gain among lab mice. The effects of high-fat and high-sugar diets on them has shown that risks of obesity are affected by genes. The scientists have identified 11 genetic regions affecting obesity and fat acquisition from the diet, several of which are similar to human genes that have also been linked to obesity. During the study, the mice were put on a normal diet for 8 weeks, then consumed a high-fat or high-sugar diet for another 8 weeks. The build up of fat varied widely among the mice, ranging from 0%-600% increase in body fat over the 16 weeks. The amount of fat gained was connected with changes in the mices' gene activity. About 80% of body fat was found to likely be regulated by genes, suggesting that DNA directed the energy needed for processing food, or their metabolism, and that the amount of food the mice ate was not as much of a factor. The study suggests that the amount of physical activity the mice get and how they metabolize food has a greater impact. This may be true for humans as well. Previous studies have estimated that 50%-90% of obesity is inherited in genes, but these have not been fully identified yet. It is also possible that genes may not be directly responsible for obesity, but are set off in the presence of environmental factors such as stress. Studying the different ways that DNA impacts weight can lead to better ways of fighting obesity, which is an increasing problem in the world today. The scientists are planning to further test the genes they identified in the mice in various lab environments to gain a better understanding of how they influence body fat and behavioral responses like appetite.
Connection
This article connects to the heredity and genetics units. It connects to heredity because certain genes in the mice, their genotype, affect their body fat and metabolism, their phenotype. These obesity affecting genes can be passed on to offspring, which is what causes them to exhibit certain rates of body fat gain. Also, the article connects to genetics because DNA is what causes certain genes to exhibit certain traits. However, human genes may influence obesity only in the presence of certain environmental factors such as stress, which is an example of gene regulation.
Published on January 9, 2013
http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/09/what-mice-can-tell-us-about-obesity-and-genetics/
Summary
For more than two years, researchers at UCLA have observed and monitored weight gain among lab mice. The effects of high-fat and high-sugar diets on them has shown that risks of obesity are affected by genes. The scientists have identified 11 genetic regions affecting obesity and fat acquisition from the diet, several of which are similar to human genes that have also been linked to obesity. During the study, the mice were put on a normal diet for 8 weeks, then consumed a high-fat or high-sugar diet for another 8 weeks. The build up of fat varied widely among the mice, ranging from 0%-600% increase in body fat over the 16 weeks. The amount of fat gained was connected with changes in the mices' gene activity. About 80% of body fat was found to likely be regulated by genes, suggesting that DNA directed the energy needed for processing food, or their metabolism, and that the amount of food the mice ate was not as much of a factor. The study suggests that the amount of physical activity the mice get and how they metabolize food has a greater impact. This may be true for humans as well. Previous studies have estimated that 50%-90% of obesity is inherited in genes, but these have not been fully identified yet. It is also possible that genes may not be directly responsible for obesity, but are set off in the presence of environmental factors such as stress. Studying the different ways that DNA impacts weight can lead to better ways of fighting obesity, which is an increasing problem in the world today. The scientists are planning to further test the genes they identified in the mice in various lab environments to gain a better understanding of how they influence body fat and behavioral responses like appetite.
Connection
This article connects to the heredity and genetics units. It connects to heredity because certain genes in the mice, their genotype, affect their body fat and metabolism, their phenotype. These obesity affecting genes can be passed on to offspring, which is what causes them to exhibit certain rates of body fat gain. Also, the article connects to genetics because DNA is what causes certain genes to exhibit certain traits. However, human genes may influence obesity only in the presence of certain environmental factors such as stress, which is an example of gene regulation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)