Medical visualization of the location of the obesity gene (FTO) in region 16q12.2 (area highlighted) on chromosome 16. The FTO gene is widely expressed in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain which controls our appetite, and in the pancreatic islets where insulin is produced. Recent evidence indicates that some of us are genetically predisposed to putting on weight. People who have one copy of FTO weigh 4.5 lbs more, on average, than people who do not have it. Those who have two copies of FTO weigh about 9 lbs more. We inherit traits that help determine whether the foods we eat will be turned into energy or stored as fat. Scientists call this division energy partition. It is partly influenced by our insulin sensitivity, that is, how much insulin we release in response to our glucose intake. The rate of insulin sensitivity determines how much of that glucose is directed to fat storage versus how much is immediately used as energy. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Science Source / TheVisualMD |
Bildgröße: | 2500 px × 2128 px |
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Restrictions: | - |