By Adesina Wahab

Obesity is often portrayed as a simple result of overeating and sedentary lifestyles. But groundbreaking research by Nigerian sociologist Tomiwa Ayetigbo is reframing the conversation, revealing that the roots of obesity are far more complex, intertwining genetics, early-life socioeconomic status, and educational attainment.

In a recent study, Ayetigbo explored how genetic predisposition to obesity interacts with social factors such as education and income, with surprising and nuanced results. “Genes don’t operate in a vacuum,” he explains. “They’re activated or suppressed by environmental conditions, especially those we experience early in life.”

According to his findings, women with average or low genetic risk for obesity tend to have lower Body Mass Index (BMI) when they attain higher levels of education.

However, this correlation does not hold true for men, suggesting a gendered dynamic in how education influences health outcomes. One theory Ayetigbo posits is that occupational roles differ by gender: low-income men are more likely to hold physically demanding jobs, while low-income women are often employed in less active service roles.

The study also sheds light on the long-term effects of early-life socioeconomic status (SES). Among men who grew up in higher-income households and had high or average genetic risk, greater educational attainment was linked to a lower likelihood of obesity. However, for men raised in low-SES environments, education only appeared to lower obesity risk if they had a low genetic predisposition.

“These findings highlight the importance of looking at health through both a biological and a sociological lens,” Ayetigbo notes. “We can’t keep separating the two. Social conditions influence gene expression, particularly in early development.”

Ayetigbo stresses the role of access to accurate health information, arguing that misinformation and health illiteracy are powerful drivers of obesity in Nigeria. “If people don’t understand how their environment interacts with their biology, they’re left vulnerable,” he says. “Education is not just a pathway to employment; it’s a form of health intervention.”

His study calls for a rethinking of obesity prevention strategies. While public health campaigns often focus on calorie counting and exercise, Ayetigbo believes that truly effective solutions must address the broader context: the education system, health access, and early-life environments that shape lifelong health outcomes.

As Nigeria faces a growing obesity crisis, Ayetigbo’s work stands out as a call to action for policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals to consider the full picture of what makes people healthy or ill. In the fight against obesity, knowledge may be the most powerful tool of all.