Leptin-Melanocortin Pathway and childhood obesity

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a major health epidemic caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Evidence suggests a strong role of genetic factors in the predisposition to obesity. Several monogenic forms of obesity have also been reported. Mutations in the genes involved in the leptin-melanocortin pathway have been found to cause these forms of obesity mainly by increasing the energy intake. Genes involved in the leptin-melanocortin pathway play a crucial role in human energy homeostasis. In this review we discuss the role of the leptin-melanocortin pathway in the regulation of energy balance with special reference to the association between the genetic variants in the genes involved in the pathway and childhood obesity.

Keywords

Leptin - melanocortin - childhood obesity - single nucleotide polymorphisms