Good news for obese people! A surprising study reveals a lower risk of heart disease.

Obesity is believed to increase the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol, but research suggests that a gene called MC4R, which is responsible for obesity, may also protect against heart disease.

A recent study on obesity has revealed a surprising finding. This study challenges the connection between obesity and heart disease. It's commonly believed that obesity increases the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol, but recent research has revealed that a gene called MC4R, which is responsible for obesity, may also protect against heart disease.

Research has found that people with a rare variant of the MC4R gene have lower levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and a reduced risk of heart disease. According to scientists, this gene is found in approximately one percent of obese people and five percent of obese children. According to this research, one in every 300 people in the UK may have this gene mutation.

The unique connection between obesity and heart disease

The aim of this research was to understand how some people remain obese and yet avoid heart disease. This study, conducted by metabolism experts at the University of Cambridge, found that the MC4R gene encodes a protein in our brain that controls appetite. When this gene functions properly, a person eats less. However, when it malfunctions, a person feels more hungry and gains weight rapidly. According to the researchers, this gene contributes to obesity, but people with a rare variant have significantly lower levels of bad cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease.

Thousands of people were tested

The study examined the genes of 7,719 children and 124 adults whose obesity was caused by a defect in the MC4R gene. They were then compared to 336,000 individuals from the UK Biobank. The results revealed that individuals with MC4R deficiency had better blood pressure and cholesterol profiles and better heart health than the general population.

What does the report say?

The results of this research indicate that the MC4R gene controls the body's fat metabolism through the brain. People with this gene malfunction tend to gain weight, but have low levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol. Researchers say that understanding the function of the MC4R gene could lead to the development of new drugs for heart disease and high cholesterol.