The role of epigenetics in the development of obesity

Abstract

The epidemic of obesity has become pandemic, putting a significant burden on the world's healthcare system. While the heritability of the disease is high, all the identified genetic variants associated to obesity account for a very small percentage of phenotypic variation. The origins of the obesity pandemic cannot be explained exclusively due to genetic factors. In recent years, epigenetic studies have offered valuable information for a deeper understanding of the steep increase in global obesity rates. Existing evidence indicate that environmental exposures induce alterations to the epigenome, leading to the transmission of obesity risk across generations. In this review, we provide insight into the epigenetic disturbances associated with obesity and discuss the impact of harmful diets, particularly calorie-dense foods, in the epigenetic regulation of obesity. The epigenetics of obesity is an expanding area of research, and current reports suggest potential in the use of epigenetic mechanisms as clinical biomarkers and therapeutic candidates.