The genetics of obesity

\Obesity prevalence has markedly increased over the past few decades. The obesity pandemic has huge implications for public health and our society. While multiple studies show that the genetic contribution to obesity is significant, our genes have not changed appreciably over this time period. It has been hypothesized that natural selection would favor genotypes that resulted in a thrifty metabolism since individuals carrying these genotypes would be more likely to survive times of nutrient scarcity. Now that the majority of the world lives an increasingly "obesigenic" lifestyle of excess caloric intake and decreased physical activity, these same genes contribute to obesity.