GENORA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Genomic Instability in Obesity:Reversibility Assessment in Adolescents
IRAS ID
351672
Contact name
Emauela Volpi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Westminster
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Adolescent obesity is a growing global health concern. In the UK, over one in three teenagers are entering adulthood with excessive weight, with obesity rates peaking at 21.4% by age 17 and an additional 14.3% categorized as overweight. This significantly increases the risk of obesity persisting into adulthood, which is associated with health complications such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and a heightened risk of certain cancers later in life. Emerging research indicates that adolescent obesity may be an independent risk factor for cancer due to its harmful effects on DNA.
Excess body fat can trigger chronic low-grade inflammation, disrupting cytokines and chemokines balance that regulate the body’s immune responses. This imbalance leads to the increased production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), which can damage DNA. Persistent DNA damage contributes to genomic instability, a key factor in cancer development. While weight loss in adults has shown potential in reversing DNA damage, its effectiveness in childhood and adolescence has not bee explored yet.
This study will examine whether weight loss can reverse DNA damage in adolescents with clinical obesity. It will compare three different weight-loss interventions: lifestyle changes, pharmacological treatments, and metabolic surgery. Adolescents aged 13–18 undergoing these interventions at King’s College and Bart’s hospitals will be recruited (Participation is Voluntary). Biological samples, including saliva, urine, and opportunistic blood samples, will be collected at baseline, 6 months, and end of the study for the lifestyle and pharmacological groups. For the surgery group, samples will be collected at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 (or 24) months during routine follow-ups.
This study will examine how weight loss interventions affect DNA stability, inflammation, and nutrients, aiming to improve personalized treatment strategies for obesity-related diseases, including cancer, in young people.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/1556
Date of REC Opinion
10 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion