A common biological factor may underlie the increased risk of obesity during aging and eating behaviors associated with obesity.. According to researchers from the National Institutes of Health, obesity in middle-aged and elderly people is associated with variants of the FTO gene..

In addition, brain scans have shown decreased function in areas of the brain that control impulsivity and the perception of food texture and taste.. “As it turns out, people who carry one or two copies of FTO showed increased intake of high-calorie or high-fat foods as they age,” said study lead author Dr. Madhava Zambisetti..

The study included 700 participants, including 69 who agreed to undergo a PET scan to collect additional information about their brain structures and function.. At the beginning of the study, the average age of the volunteers was 46 years.. About 45% of participants carried at least one copy of the FTO obesity gene. About 16% - two copies of this gene, which significantly increases the risk of obesity.

First, scientists confirmed that body mass index increased more in volunteers with one or two copies of the FTO gene variant.. They then used PET scans to compare the brains of carriers of the dangerous FTO variant with those of non-carriers of the gene, tracking differences in brain function over time.. The researchers found that people with the FTO gene variant had reduced activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, an area of \u200b\u200bthe brain responsible for impulses and the perception of taste and texture of food..

New information may explain why people with this gene have so much trouble with being overweight and struggle to maintain a healthy weight, especially as they age. In the United States, more than one-third of adults aged 65 and over are obese.

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