An SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) in the FTO gene is associated with increased risk of obesity, and the effect was correlated directly with the number of copies of the SNP.
In 2009 two large genome-wide association studies found the FTO variant to be associated with BMI (Thorleifsson et al, 2009; Willer et al, 2009).
A number of other gene variants have been implicated in weight management, including ADRB3, FABP2, POMC, and PPARG, but none so dramatically as FTO. The FTO variant also may increase risk for T2DM and CVD through its effect on susceptibility to increased body fat.