Researchers in Texas are putting together a genomic database to study obesity, Houston Public Media reports.
Researchers from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio have partnered with the group Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) to collect DNA samples and family histories from thousands of people to root out genetic factors that affect diet and exercise as well as obesity. The volunteers who contribute to this TOPS Genome Registry will also be followed over time.
Michael Olivier from Texas Biomed tells Houston Public Media that information gleaned from this registry may help doctors give their patients more personalized weight-loss advice.
"Bringing in this additional genetic information and studying this aspect will help physicians to use that information more effectively to advise patients in the future," Olivier says.