Scientists discovered the KLF14 gene, described as the master gene for fat storage, a few years ago. Now that gene is being linked to more than just fat and fat’s behavior. This master switch has now been linked to chronic conditions like diabetes as well as high cholesterol. This gene, according to new research studies, has some control over the body’s susceptibility to certain metabolic syndromes which include obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

This research, conducted by British researchers and published in the Journal of Natural Genetics, is the first of the major studies to have linked the role of the so called master switch in the role of producing other genes and causing other fat related diseases. More than half a billion people worldwide, or one in ten are considered to be obese, a number that has doubled since the 1980’s. In the United States, obesity and obesity related conditions account for nearly $150 billion a year, a number that is roughly ten percent of medical spending in the country. In addition,. Type 2 diabetes, which is typically causes by obesity, poor diet and a serious lack of exercise,. has also reached epidemic levels both in the US and worldwide.

The initial research discovered that the fat gene is present in nearly half of all of the people in the United States, particularly those who are of particular European descent. That same gene is present in a quarter of American Hispanics and 15% of both the African-Americans and Asian-Americans. The so called master switch gene may is linked to increased weight gain as well as the increased risk of obesity. The researchers are now working on a way to trigger the master switch to end fat production and potentially to reverse the actions.

In addition to the master switch, there is other fat that appears to have the ability to dump hormones into the body, which may increase the danger of having it. Visceral fat, described as living fat which is typically found around the internal organs of the abdominal cavity, actively produces a number of hormones which may increase the risk of heart disease and more than doubles the chance of dying from certain conditions.

The research which has linked the master switch with other areas of fat in the body, has also linked this gene to an even scarier problem: the loss of brain tissue. According to the researchers, as the KLF14 master gene causes the body to increase fat production, it also causes brain shrinkage and may dramatically increase the risk of a number of brain related diseases which may include Alzheimer’s disease and more.

Currently, the focus is on teaching better eating and exercise habits worldwide while researchers continue work toward not only learning how the master switch functions but how to harness its power to end the problems of obesity and weight related conditions.