Obesity and Developmental Disabilities: Pathogenesis and Treatment

How the occurrence of syndromes involving both mental retardation and obesity can be used to map genes that may influence body weight regulation in the general population is described.

Abstract

In this paper, we review information and data relating to the confluence of mental retardation and obesity. The paper is divided into four sections. In the first section, a description of the major syndromes associated with both mental retardation and obesity is presented, as well as a brief review of the association of obesity with "general" mental retardation. In the second section, information on the treatment of obesity in individuals with mental retardation is presented. In the third section, we describe how the occurrence of syndromes involving both mental retardation and obesity can be used to map genes that may influence body weight regulation in the general population. Fourth and finally, suggestions for future research are provided.