Scientists have developed a new tool to predict which children are likely to become obese in adulthood. The test analyzes DNA from a blood sample and is twice as effective at predicting obesity as the previous best test.
The World Health Organization predicts that over half of the global population will become overweight or obese by 2035. In England, almost 65% of adults over 18 are overweight or obese, while around one in eight children aged two to ten are obese.
The new tool uses a polygenic risk score to combine the effects of various genetic risk variants and provide an overall score. The researchers drew on the genetic data of over five million people and tested the new risk score on datasets of more than 500,000 people.
According to Assistant Professor Roelof Smit, the test can identify children at risk of obesity before other risk factors start to shape their weight later in childhood. Intervening early can have a significant impact on preventing obesity.
The tool has limitations, however, particularly for people with African ancestry. Despite its strengths, it is not a silver bullet and should be used as part of a comprehensive approach to tackling obesity.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/childhood-obesity-tool-test-prediction-b2791700.html