ABSTRACT

Just as susceptibility to obesity is affected by genetics, it can also be affected by epigenetic mechanisms. The nascent eld of epigenetics and obesity has generated considerable excitement, not only because environmental inuences on epigenetics could partially explain the increasing prevalence of obesity in recent decades but also because, unlike genetic causes of obesity, epigenetic marks are inherently malleable, affording potential opportunities for therapeutic intervention. The overall hypothesis of this eld is that interindividual epigenetic variation contributes to individual variation in adiposity. This chapter considers the evidence in support of this hypothesis and suggests priorities for future research.