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This gene causes obesity — and shields against heart disease

People with certain forms of the MC4R gene have lower cholesterol levels than do other individuals with a high body-mass index.
By
  1. Heidi Ledford

    1. Heidi Ledford reports for Nature from Seattle, Washington.

A gene that causes obesity is paradoxically linked to a reduced risk of having heart disease and high cholesterol, according to an analysis of thousands of people with obesity.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03387-9

References

  1. Zorn, S. et al. Nature Med. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03976-1 (2025).

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  2. Dempfle, A. et al. J. Med. Genet. 41, 795–800 (2004).

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