Epigenetic Control and Obesity

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. These are among the greatest public health problems worldwide, as excess weight is a risk factor for numerous conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and heart disease. In the general population overweight has a complex architecture, which means that it depends on genetic and environmental factors and on the interactions between them. Increasing evidence suggests that DNA methylation and other epigenetic mechanisms are involved in development and progression of obesity. Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) identified numerous loci associated with obesity or with the results on weight-loss interventions. However, heterogeneity in study design and analysis limits overlap in the results. Different types of non-coding RNAs have also been related to obesity as they are involved in stimulation or inhibition of adipogenesis and regulation of its metabolic and endocrine functions. The identification of reliable and reproducible epigenetic biomarkers for obesity and response to weight-loss therapies remains challenging.