Scientists have identified two new genes that increase the risk of common childhood obesity, a finding which may pave the way for preventive interventions and treatments for kids based on their individual genomes. Previous researches have identified gene variants contributing to obesity in adults and in children with extreme obesity, but relatively little is known about genes implicated in regular childhood obesity. Now, a team at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia claims it has found two novel loci, one near OLFM4 gene on chromosome 13, the other within the HOXB5 gene on chromosome 17, the 'Nature Genetics' journal reported.
