An Overview of Epigenetics in Obesity: The Role of Lifestyle and Therapeutic Interventions

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 23; no. 3; p. 1341
• Main Author: Mahmoud, Abeer M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 25.01.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Body mass index; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diet; DNA; DNA methylation; DNA Methylation - genetics; Endocrine Disruptors; Energy balance; Energy metabolism; Energy Metabolism - genetics; Epidemics; Epigenesis, Genetic - genetics; Epigenetics; Epigenomics - methods; Exercise; Food intake; Gene Expression - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation - genetics; Genetic diversity; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; histone modifications; Histones - genetics; Humans; Impact analysis; Kinases; Life Style; lifestyle; Metabolic Diseases - genetics; Metabolic disorders; Nucleotide sequence; Obesity; Obesity - genetics; Obesity - physiopathology; Review; RNA, Untranslated - genetics; Sedentary behavior; Therapeutic applications; Weight reduction; microRNAs; DNA methylation; weight loss; diet; histone modifications; energy metabolism; epigenetics; obesity; lifestyle; physical activity
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031341

Obesity has become a global epidemic that has a negative impact on population health and the economy of nations. Genetic predispositions have been demonstrated to have a substantial role in the unbalanced energy metabolism seen in obesity. However, these genetic variations cannot entirely explain the massive growth in obesity over the last few decades. Accumulating evidence suggests that modern lifestyle characteristics such as the intake of energy-dense foods, adopting sedentary behavior, or exposure to environmental factors such as industrial endocrine disruptors all contribute to the rising obesity epidemic. Recent advances in the study of DNA and its alterations have considerably increased our understanding of the function of epigenetics in regulating energy metabolism and expenditure in obesity and metabolic diseases. These epigenetic modifications influence how DNA is transcribed without altering its sequence. They are dynamic, reflecting the interplay between the body and its surroundings. Notably, these epigenetic changes are reversible, making them appealing targets for therapeutic and corrective interventions. In this review, I discuss how these epigenetic modifications contribute to the disordered energy metabolism in obesity and to what degree lifestyle and weight reduction strategies and pharmacological drugs can restore energy balance by restoring normal epigenetic profiles.