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Loneliness is often seen as a byproduct of life's circumstances, but new research shows that this silent epidemic could be influenced by genetic variations that are also related to obesity. This means that losing a few pounds could temper loneliness, according to the researchers.
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have discovered a genetic link between overweight and social isolation. The research that was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications is the first to show a causal link between loneliness and obesity, and could give doctors a glimpse of how to treat two common conditions.
"There is still a complex mix of genes and the environment, but that suggests that at the population level, if we could fight obesity, we would be able to reduce loneliness John Perry, Principal Investigator at the University of Cambridge, The Telegraph .
About half of all Americans feel lonely, according to a recent national survey conducted by health insurer Cigna. About 54 percent of participants stated that they felt that no one knew them well. One in four Americans, 27%, said that he rarely or never felt like there were people who really understood them. These results were collected from 20,000 adult participants.
Last year, the American Psychological Association stated that loneliness was an "epidemic" and stated that it could represent a greater threat to public health than the "lonely" disease. obesity. Cambridge researchers examined genetic variation in 487,647 participants who responded to a questionnaire about their feelings of loneliness, the frequency with which they interact with other people, and the quality of their social life [
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Scientists then studied individuals who reported feeling lonely and found variations in their DNA at 15 genetic locations.
Genetic areas were similar in overweight participants and related to an area of the brain badociated with emotional self-regulation
. The study then showed that some genes make it more likely that people participate more in social activities. For example, some 13 genetic variations predicted whether people go to a bar or social club at least once a week, and 18 are linked to attracted religious groups.
"We often think that loneliness is determined by our environment and life experiences, but this study demonstrates that genes can also play a role," said Perry.
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