Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that results in enormous costs to
health care systems [1]. Data from the World Health Organization
show that the incidence of obesity worldwide has doubled since the
1980s [2]. At the present time, more than 1 billion individuals are overweight
and more than 300 million are classified as obese (with a body
mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher). The increased prevalence of obesity
and associated metabolic diseases can be primarily attributed to the
combination of excessive consumption of energy-dense foods, lack of
physical activity, and genetic susceptibility [3]. Sustainable changes in
lifestyles, including diet and physical exercise, are required to reduce
obesity. However, such modifications are notoriously difficult to implement
and maintain for prolonged durations, and often show limited
success. Furthermore, current pharmacotherapeutic options for treating
obesity and obesity-related diseases remain limited and ineffective [4].
It is therefore necessary to understand the molecular mechanisms by
which intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to the development of
obesity. Elucidation of the genes involved in the development of common