Genetic predisposition for overweight: Possible interactions of genome and environment

The increase in the prevalence of obesity and the concomitant health problems are putting a burden on our modern society. Lifestyle and genetic predisposition define the individual susceptibility to gain weight. Through identifying the genetic alterations and the subsequent investigation of the affected genes/proteins – including studies in mice – scientists hope to gain insights into the complex interaction of our genome and environment to finally identify the mechanisms that may lead e.g. to weight gain.