Body weight regulation, socioeconomic status and epigenetic alterations

Obesity is a complex disease which has reached epidemic dimensions. Thus, prevention of excessive weight gain and associated metabolic and cardiovascular diseases has to start as early in life as possible. The impact of epigenetic mechanisms on the regulation of genes involved in obesity is increasingly recognized. On the other hand, it is well known that socioeconomic factors influence the risk for obesity. These factors can also have an impact on epigenetic gene regulation. There is increasing body of evidence that several factors and interventions addressing extragenetic causes of obesity may not only improve individual health, but also the health of future generations by epigenetic alterations. Our current understanding of epigenetic changes has shown that many of them are potentially reversible, i.e. by physical exercise, by pharmacological treatment, by environmental factors or nutrition, or even by influencing socioeconomic factors, which might have impact on improving health in future generations by avoiding epigenetic dysregulation. In this review we present the current state of the art with regard to the interplay between social determinants, weight status and epigenetic alterations. •The impact of epigenetic mechanisms on the regulation of genes involved in obesity is increasingly recognized.•There is increasing evidence that several factors and interventions addressing extragenetic causes of obesity may lead to epigenetic alterations.•Exercise, pharmacotherapy as well as influencing socioeconomic factors might have impact on improving health by avoiding epigenetic dysregulation.•The current state of the art regarding the interplay between social determinants, weight status and epigenetic alterations is presented.