Whole Exome Sequencing and Whole Genome Sequencing for Investigation of the Genetic Basis of Obesity: A Rapid Review

Abstract

Objective: In recent decades, the prevalence of obesity has reached a global epidemic level. This study was done to assess the whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing methods used to investigate the genetic basis of obesity. Materials and Methods: Different studies on Pubmed, Scopuis, Google Scholar and other data bases were extracted and their findings were analyzed. Results: Childhood obesity has risen to alarming levels as World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there were 38.2 million children under the age of 5 years with overweight or obesity in 2019. It has been shown that genetic factors also play a key role in the risk of obesity, and strong evidence suggests that BMI is highly heritable. However, in both adults and children, a major part of the genetic aetiology of obesity is still unknown. Recent advances and increasing affordability of whole exome sequencing (WES) and/or whole genome sequencing (WGS) have provided a rapid and comprehensive method for identifying the novel genes in obesity, particularly in children with severe early-onset obesity. Conclusion: This rapid review aimed to review a variety of literature reporting novel candidate genes for non-syndromic obesity identified through applying WES and WGS techniques in humans.