weight loss and genetics

Good Friday morning....

I saw a study published that described a permanent change in DNA in children that occurs in children who are exposed to much stress, resulting in an increased risk of depression because of neurochemical factors. Basically, when a child is exposed to much stress, some changes occur in a gene that results in the over production of certain neurochemicals that result in higher liklihood of depressive disease as an adult.

The question occurs then as to whether this type of stress exposure in childhood also may result in other neurochemical changes involved in eating behaviors resulting in a higher liklihood of obesity as that child becomes an adult.

Brain chemicals play a large role in mood disorders and also eating patterns. There are so many things we do not know about this entire neurochemical pathway and hopefully further research will result in therapies to address these imbalances.