Childhood obesity results from sustained positive energy balance but finds its proximal determinants in the interplay of genetic predisposition and environmental factors, acting already during prenatal and early life. Childhood obesity rates have increased substantially over the past years, rising to an epidemic level, and the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdowns enlarged this health issue. Despite studies documenting childhood obesity heritability, the tremendous increase in the prevalence of obesity in children over the last few decades cannot merely be explained by evolutionary changes in the genome, implying that gene-environment interaction likely drives the childhood obesity epidemic. Epigenetics is one of the primary molecular mechanisms underlying gene-environment interaction, and research indicates it is linked with childhood obesity.
This Research Topic aims to increase knowledge of the mechanisms of epigenetics in childhood obesity. We expect this knowledge to stimulate discussion among the leading scientists in epigenetics and shed light on the causal relationship between epigenetics and childhood obesity, the interplay between the different epigenetic mechanisms related to childhood obesity, and ultimately enable therapies and preventative interventions. We strongly encourage researchers from low- and middle-income countries, where childhood obesity prevalence is high, to share their insights.
We welcome submissions of manuscripts investigating one or more epigenetic mechanisms (e.g., DNA methylation, DNA hydroxymethylation, non-coding RNAs, chromatin and histones modifications) and anthropometric measurements in childhood including, but not limited to, BMI, weight, waist circumference, fat mass, waist-to-hip ratio, weight gain, rapid growth. Research on translational applications targeting epigenetics in childhood obesity is also welcomed.
Childhood obesity results from sustained positive energy balance but finds its proximal determinants in the interplay of genetic predisposition and environmental factors, acting already during prenatal and early life. Childhood obesity rates have increased substantially over the past years, rising to an epidemic level, and the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdowns enlarged this health issue. Despite studies documenting childhood obesity heritability, the tremendous increase in the prevalence of obesity in children over the last few decades cannot merely be explained by evolutionary changes in the genome, implying that gene-environment interaction likely drives the childhood obesity epidemic. Epigenetics is one of the primary molecular mechanisms underlying gene-environment interaction, and research indicates it is linked with childhood obesity.
This Research Topic aims to increase knowledge of the mechanisms of epigenetics in childhood obesity. We expect this knowledge to stimulate discussion among the leading scientists in epigenetics and shed light on the causal relationship between epigenetics and childhood obesity, the interplay between the different epigenetic mechanisms related to childhood obesity, and ultimately enable therapies and preventative interventions. We strongly encourage researchers from low- and middle-income countries, where childhood obesity prevalence is high, to share their insights.
We welcome submissions of manuscripts investigating one or more epigenetic mechanisms (e.g., DNA methylation, DNA hydroxymethylation, non-coding RNAs, chromatin and histones modifications) and anthropometric measurements in childhood including, but not limited to, BMI, weight, waist circumference, fat mass, waist-to-hip ratio, weight gain, rapid growth. Research on translational applications targeting epigenetics in childhood obesity is also welcomed.