Missing Gene Could Explain Childhood Obesity

Obese children certainly aren’t missing any meals, which helps explain why childhood obesity rates are so high worldwide.

But now scientists suggest severely obese kids lack a particular piece of DNA essential to controlling hunger.

In a new study, published in the journal Nature, experts analyzed the DNA of 300 kids who reached 220 pounds by 10 years old.

Data revealed many children lacked a chromosome that allows the brain to react to leptin, an appetite-controlling hormone.

This DNA issue is extremely rare, occurring in less than 1% of 1,200 obese children.

Due to this gene problem, researchers say overweight kids have a “very strong drive to eat,” and identifying it early can help parents intervene.