• Published:December 20th, 2008
• Comments:No Comment
• Category:Uncategorized

There hasn’t been too much to report on recently in terms of activity of the PHG Foundation - not because there hasn’t been any, but because I have been a bit out of the loop thanks to a festive bout of viral grimness. Although I can officially reveal that the staff took a Christmas lunch break in the Cambridge branch of Wagamama (at their personal and individual expense, I should perhaps add). Things are warming up nicely for 2009, with the launch of some major reports quite a few national and international conferences where we shall have a presence, and some rounds of musical offices as we rearrange ourselves with the advent of new staff members..

So, what has December brought, besides a combination of seasonal cheer and seasonal infectious diseases? One thing that I have observed is a large number of new papers on genetic influences on in obesity and some related clinical measures, such as cholesterol levels. Obesity is of course a serious public health issue in the UK, a common topic in the news, and very relevant at a time of year that many of us are eating more than we should (actually, I always eat more than I should, but you know what I mean).

One interesting review paper that has caught my eye is called Is Obesity Our Genetic Legacy? by Alex Blakemore (Imperial College London) and Philippe Froguel (Pasteur institute, Lille). And the answer seems to be yes, to some extent it really is. The authors observe that rapid progress is being made in understanding some of the extremely complex genetic factors involved in the surprisingly high total genetic influence on obesity, estimated at around 70%. Despite being fairly well versed in genetics and health, I had not realised that genetics was thought to exert such a significant effect on weight regulation, although of course I knew that (as with any common complex condition), both genetic and environmental factors would be at play. Apparently obesity really may be, to some extent, our genetic heritage, although a genetic propensity towards disease does not mean that you will inevitably develop it.

The upshot of recent scientific progress in this area seems to be an increasing realisation that genetic information might one day inform and refine weight management for individuals, and perhaps also lead to some new therapeutic options; any additional measures to improve medical and public health intervention against obesity would be of great value, since attempting to modify the environment (fewer pies, more exercise) is, sadly, not always effective. Perhaps one day, medicine might offer me something that would make me voluntarily pass up on the pies. But for now, my main protection against moving from my current (shall we say, generously endowed) figure and complete sphericalness? On yer bike - literally. At least that’s feasible in Cambridge.