Obesity and Weight Management

Biography

Biography: Radha Saraswathy

Abstract

The chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, dyslipidemia, and hypertension is alarmingly increasing rapidly. Obesity predisposes to many diseases. There are genetic and non genetic factors reported to be associated with obesity. Screening of pre-obesity individuals may be helpful in early management and prevention of other obesity associated diseases. In this study, the WHO Asia Pacific Guidelines 2000 was followed to classify the subjects on the basis of their BMI. A total of 300 Type 2 diabetes mellitus individuals were included. Pregnant women and subjects suffering from thyroid problems were excluded from the study. Demographic characteristics were analysed. Molecular analysis of the LEPR gene polymorphism was carried out by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). 14.62% were found to be pre-obese (2325) and 16.7% were Morbid Obese (BMI>30). 58.8%. The heterozygous and homozygous variants were associated with BMI. The pre-obese individuals showed 78.1% heterozygous and 21.8% homozygous variants as compared to the obese individuals (66% and 34% respectively). This study reports the association of LEPR polymorphisms on pre-obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in this ethnic population. Thus the prevalence of high risk group individuals could be identified and counseled, and medical intervention carried out for an early management.