The research team conducted targeted high-throughput sequencing of obesity-associated genes in young adults with abdominal obesity. Their study revealed that every participant had at least one rare variant in genes linked to obesity. Among the most frequently affected genes were ADIPOQ, FTO, GLP1R, GHRL, and INS, which play crucial roles in insulin secretion, appetite regulation, and energy metabolism. These findings suggest that rare genetic variants may have a substantial impact on obesity risk.
Two specific genetic variants, rs17366653 and rs199668131, were identified as having potential implications for obesity risk. While rs17366653 has been previously linked to ADIPOQ levels, rs199668131 is a novel variant associated with obesity risk. However, the study emphasizes that further investigation is necessary to determine the clinical relevance of these variants.