Latest news with #Raffan
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Labradors' overeating gene may explain human obesity risk, researchers say
The Brief A new study from the University of Cambridge found that Labradors and humans share a key gene linked to obesity. The DENND1B gene influences hunger signals in the brain, making those with the variant more prone to overeating. Researchers say the findings shed light on how genetic risk contributes to obesity in humans. LOS ANGELES - Scientists studying Labrador retrievers—a breed known for its insatiable appetite—have discovered a genetic link between obesity in dogs and humans. The DENND1B gene, previously linked to obesity in people, was found to alter hunger signals in Labradors, making them more prone to overeating. Researchers at the University of Cambridge analyzed the genetics of 250 Labradors and found that dogs carrying this gene variant had about 8% more body fat than those without it. Dr. Eleanor Raffan, the study's lead researcher, emphasized that genetic predisposition plays a significant role in weight gain. "Owners of slim dogs are not morally superior. The same is true of slim people," Raffan said. "If you have a high genetic risk of obesity, then when there's lots of food available, you're prone to overeating and gaining weight unless you put a huge effort into not doing so." By the numbers Obesity in dogs and humans is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Just as humans with high genetic risk can manage their weight through diet and exercise, the study found that Labrador owners who strictly controlled food intake and activity helped prevent obesity in their dogs—even in genetically predisposed ones. 40-60% of pet dogs are overweight or obese, similar to human obesity rates. Labradors with the DENND1B gene had 8% more body fat than those without it. US obesity rates exceed 42%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy target brain pathways that regulate appetite. Dr. Alyce McClellan, joint first author of the study, noted that while this research helps scientists understand how genes influence eating behavior, it doesn't immediately translate to weight-loss drugs. "These genes are not immediately obvious targets for weight-loss drugs, because they control other key biological processes in the body that should not be interfered with," McClellan explained. However, the study reinforces the importance of fundamental brain pathways in controlling appetite and body weight. What's next The discovery strengthens the case that obesity is not simply a matter of willpower, but a complex interaction between genetics and environment. While drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy target hormones that regulate appetite, the study suggests that brain pathways controlling hunger signals may hold additional insights into why some people are more prone to weight gain. For pet owners, researchers recommend strategies to manage a dog's food intake, including puzzle feeders and scattering food to slow eating and increase mental stimulation. "Studying the dogs meant we had reason to focus on this particular gene, which has led to a big advance in understanding how our own brain controls our eating behavior and energy use," Raffan said. As scientists continue to explore genetic influences on obesity, this study highlights that solutions may not be one-size-fits-all, but tailored to individual biology—whether human or canine. The Source This report is based on findings published in Science, with statements from University of Cambridge researchers and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers sniff out obesity link between labradors, humans
(NewsNation) — British researchers say the gene that drives some labrador retrievers to overeat and gain weight is also found in humans. The connection between dogs and people surfaced after scientists studied 250 labradors and looked for commonalities in the obese dogs of the group. One culprit, they determined, is a gene known as DENND1B, which regulates appetite and energy. The gene is also present in humans, and variants within people are likewise associated with obesity. About half of Americans approve of using weight-loss drugs: Poll 'Owners of slim dogs are not morally superior. The same is true of slim people,' said lead researcher Eleanor Raffan of the University of Cambridge's Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience. 'If you have a high genetic risk of obesity, then when there's lots of food available you're prone to overeating and gaining weight unless you put a huge effort into not doing so.' The study could help in the development of drugs that fight obesity and prevent health problems associated with being overweight. Dogs are a good model for the study of human obesity, the researchers said, because canines can become obese through similar environmental influences. 'This work shows how similar dogs are to humans genetically,' Raffan said. 'Studying the dogs meant we had reason to focus on this particular gene, which has led to a big advance in understanding how our own brain controls our eating behavior and energy use.' Study findings were published in the journal 'Science' last week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Genetic drive to overeat found in labradors and humans
Dogs that are constantly hungry and prone to being overweight share a common bit of biology with some obesity-prone humans. This is what UK scientists have discovered - identifying a genetic source of many labradors' - and some people's - tendency to overeat. Researchers found that changes in a particular gene, one of the building blocks of biological code that produces the blueprint for how our bodies work, alters the chemical signals that tell our brains we've had enough to eat. The scientists say their findings, published in the journal Science, reveal something "powerful" about the biology of obesity risk. "By studying dogs, we've honed in on some interesting new biology here," explained lead researcher Dr Eleanor Raffan from the University of Cambridge's department of physiology, development and neuroscience. She added that the discovery showed that "owners of slim dogs are not morally superior - and the same is true of slim people". "If you have a high genetic risk of obesity, you're prone to gaining weight unless you put a huge effort into not doing so. And those with low genetic risk just don't have to work so hard." This canine-human biological link came from the researchers' examination of the genetics of 250 labradors. The team looked for pieces of genetic code that were common in overweight dogs. They picked out one gene in particular - called DENND1B - that was associated with a higher body mass in the labradors. And when they searched through a library of genetic information from thousands of humans, they discovered that the same gene was associated with a higher body mass in people, too. Before this study of labrador genetics, Dr Raffan said, "no one suspected that gene had anything to do with obesity". The gene interferes with a brain signalling pathway that helps regulate our appetite. Dr Raffan explained: "It alters the predisposition to weight gain because it's tweaking a system that is involved in regulating how hungry we feel and how much energy we burn off." The findings could help in the future development of new drugs to tackle obesity. But the scientists say they reveal how much harder people - and owners of dogs - with this genetic predisposition have to work to offset its effects. Another member of the research team, Alyce McClellan, from Cambridge University added that the results emphasised "the importance of fundamental brain pathways in controlling appetite and body weight". Weight loss drugs may boost health in many ways Why fat labradors can blame their genes The discovery adds to a developing picture of those pathways and the biological driving forces behind overeating. A group of weight loss drugs, that includes Ozempic, target some of this biology, and have exploded in popularity in recent years. What we've identified here is a different pathway [from the one targeted by those drugs]," explained Dr Raffan. "But it all speaks to the same important bit of biology, which is that obesity is not about having low willpower. "It's about the fact that some people are prone to weight gain because they have a genetic risk which increases their responsiveness to food and their appetite. "This goes for dogs and humans alike - they have a genetic drive to overeat."
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists discover same ‘hungry genes' make humans and labradors fat
A gene that makes Labradors more likely to overeat is the same gene found in obesity-prone humans, according to new research. Scientists have discovered that changes to a particular gene, that's responsible for regulating the energy balance in the body, alters the chemical signals that tell our brains we have had enough to eat. Findings published in the academic journal Science revealed the dog gene found to be most strongly associated with obesity in Labradors is called DENND1B — the same one is also linked with obesity in people. Researchers at the University of Cambridge analysed the genetics of 250 Labradors and said they have found something 'really powerful' about the biology of obesity risk. 'Owners of slim dogs are not morally superior,' said Dr Eleanor Raffan, who led the study. 'The same is true of slim people. If you have a high genetic risk of obesity, then when there's lots of food available, you're prone to overeating and gaining weight unless you put a huge effort into not doing so,' she added. The human obesity epidemic is mirrored by an obesity epidemic in dogs. About 40-60 per cent of pet dogs are overweight or obese, which just like humans can lead to a range of health problems. Dogs are a good model for studying human obesity: they develop obesity through similar environmental influences as humans, and because dogs within any given breed have a high degree of genetic similarity, their genes can be more easily linked to disease. To get their results, the researchers recruited owners with pet dogs. They measured body fat of the dogs, gave them a 'greediness' score by measuring how much dogs pestered their owners for food and took a saliva sample for DNA. Dogs carrying the genetic variant most associated with obesity, DENND1B, had around 8 per cent more body fat than those without it. The researchers then examined whether the genes they identified were relevant to human obesity. They looked at both large population-based studies, and at cohorts of patients with severe, early onset obesity where single genetic changes are suspected to cause the weight gain. But researchers say there are ways owners can keep their dogs distracted from constant hunger by spreading out each daily food ration. Scattering food around the garden and using puzzle feeders so it takes longer to eat are some of the suggestions. Dr Raffan said: 'This work shows how similar dogs are to humans genetically. Studying the dogs meant we had reason to focus on this particular gene, which has led to a big advance in understanding how our own brain controls our eating behaviour and energy use.' The study found that owners who strictly controlled their dogs' diet and exercise managed to prevent even those with high genetic risk from becoming obese. Similarly, people at high genetic risk of developing obesity will not necessarily become obese, if they follow a strict diet and exercise regime. But it does mean they are more prone to weight gain. This discovery adds to the building research of what causes people to overeat. A group of weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, target some of this biology, but study authors say this study shows something a bit different. 'These genes are not immediately obvious targets for weight-loss drugs, because they control other key biological processes in the body that should not be interfered with. But the results emphasise the importance of fundamental brain pathways in controlling appetite and body weight,' said Alyce McClellan joint first author of the report.
The Independent
07-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists discover same ‘hungry genes' make humans and labradors fat
A gene that makes Labradors more likely to overeat is the same gene found in obesity-prone humans, according to new research. Scientists have discovered that changes to a particular gene, that's responsible for regulating the energy balance in the body, alters the chemical signals that tell our brains we have had enough to eat. Findings published in the academic journal Science revealed the dog gene found to be most strongly associated with obesity in Labradors is called DENND1B — the same one is also linked with obesity in people. Researchers at the University of Cambridge analysed the genetics of 250 Labradors and said they have found something 'really powerful' about the biology of obesity risk. 'Owners of slim dogs are not morally superior,' said Dr Eleanor Raffan, who led the study. 'The same is true of slim people. If you have a high genetic risk of obesity, then when there's lots of food available, you're prone to overeating and gaining weight unless you put a huge effort into not doing so,' she added. The human obesity epidemic is mirrored by an obesity epidemic in dogs. About 40-60 per cent of pet dogs are overweight or obese, which just like humans can lead to a range of health problems. Dogs are a good model for studying human obesity: they develop obesity through similar environmental influences as humans, and because dogs within any given breed have a high degree of genetic similarity, their genes can be more easily linked to disease. To get their results, the researchers recruited owners with pet dogs. They measured body fat of the dogs, gave them a 'greediness' score by measuring how much dogs pestered their owners for food and took a saliva sample for DNA. Dogs carrying the genetic variant most associated with obesity, DENND1B, had around 8 per cent more body fat than those without it. The researchers then examined whether the genes they identified were relevant to human obesity. They looked at both large population-based studies, and at cohorts of patients with severe, early onset obesity where single genetic changes are suspected to cause the weight gain. But researchers say there are ways owners can keep their dogs distracted from constant hunger by spreading out each daily food ration. Scattering food around the garden and using puzzle feeders so it takes longer to eat are some of the suggestions. Dr Raffan said: 'This work shows how similar dogs are to humans genetically. Studying the dogs meant we had reason to focus on this particular gene, which has led to a big advance in understanding how our own brain controls our eating behaviour and energy use.' The study found that owners who strictly controlled their dogs' diet and exercise managed to prevent even those with high genetic risk from becoming obese. Similarly, people at high genetic risk of developing obesity will not necessarily become obese, if they follow a strict diet and exercise regime. But it does mean they are more prone to weight gain. This discovery adds to the building research of what causes people to overeat. A group of weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, target some of this biology, but study authors say this study shows something a bit different. 'These genes are not immediately obvious targets for weight-loss drugs, because they control other key biological processes in the body that should not be interfered with. But the results emphasise the importance of fundamental brain pathways in controlling appetite and body weight,' said Alyce McClellan joint first author of the report.
