Genetic Factors in Obesity
Your genes can influence how your body stores fat, controls appetite and responds to food, which is why some people gain weight more easily than others.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
Your genes can influence how your body stores fat, controls appetite and responds to food, which is why some people gain weight more easily than others. Genes do not make weight gain inevitable; they set tendencies that lifestyle can still influence. Knowing your family history helps tailor a more effective plan.
Medical
Clinical Definition
Obesity has a strong heritable component, with twin and family studies estimating heritability of 40 to 70 percent. Common variants across hundreds of gene loci each exert small effects on appetite, satiety and energy expenditure, while rare monogenic forms such as MC4R or leptin pathway deficiency cause severe early-onset obesity. Polygenic risk interacts with the food environment to determine the final phenotype.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Recognising a genetic contribution reduces self-blame and supports a medical, personalised approach. At Accord Medical Clinic, Dr Joseph Wang considers family history when setting realistic goals and selecting therapies.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.