On the 5th of November, the Institute for Advanced Studies hosted a seminar on exploring the links between genetics, behavior, and environment in obesity led by Prof. Philippe Froguel from CHRU de Lille and Imperial College London at UM6P Campus in Bengurir.
Prof. Froguel explained the distinction between monogenic forms of obesity, those affecting appetite, satiety, and hypothalamic regulation, and polygenic forms, which involve more than a thousand genomic regions often associated with reward and addiction mechanisms. He also emphasized the influence of epigenetics and life trajectories, including sleep patterns, sedentary lifestyle, diet, and socio-economic conditions.
The discussion focused on findings from pediatric obesity studies in populations with high consanguinity, such as in Pakistan, which have helped identify actionable genes. Prof. Froguel also talked about emerging therapeutic approaches, noting the limits of bariatric surgery for certain genetic profiles and the growing use of GLP-1 and GIP agonists, which reduce “food noise,” or food-related preoccupation.
He concluded by highlighting the potential of precision medicine and multi-omic artificial intelligence to improve risk assessment, prevention, and personalized treatment strategies for obesity.