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21 July 2006
High BMI Score Doesn't Always Mean Obesity 
Body mass index (BMI), a ratio of height and weight, has been used for years to characterize and assess weight status. The general rule is that the lower the BMI, the leaner the person, and anyone with a BMI above 30 is characterized as obese. But a new study using mice suggests that other techniques that measure how the weight is distributed on the body may provide a better way to assess weight-related risk. The study, published in PLoS Genetics, was carried out by scientists from the Jackson Laboratory and the J.L. Pettis VA Medical Center who used a combination of computational, molecular and genetic tools to identify locations on the mouse genome that influence adiposity (amount of body fat), overall body size and bone structure. Applying an analytical technique called structural equation modeling to the genetic and physical characteristics; the scientists went beyond the one-gene, one-trait approach to reveal the effects created by the influence of multiple genes. "We found that the genetic network affecting adiposity is separate from that affecting overall body size. Providing strong evidence that a high weight is not necessarily directly associated with a high percentage of fat," said Gary Churchill, from Jackson Labs. The research suggests that more refined measurements are needed to distinguish individuals with a large body mass from those who are truly obese and consequently at high risk for diabetes, heart disease and other disorders. "The most common diseases and health disorders, including obesity as well as heart disease, diabetes and cancer, result from an interaction of multiple genes and environmental factors that add up to a dauntingly complex mix of variables," Churchill said. "We're working to unravel those factors to lay the groundwork for improved treatments." Source: The Jackson Laboratory
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