WASHINGTON – A new study has identified genetic markers that could affect our weight from fat distribution to brain processes.

The results of the research, published in the journal Nature, found 60 gene regions that affect a person’s body mass index including some regions tied to the nervous system, BBC News reports.

The findings suggest that obesity could be in part a neurological condition.

Other newly identified gene regions could dictate whether a person carries fat around the thighs or the abdomen, the study found.

Abdominal fat increases a person’s risk for heart disease and diabetes, according to BBC News.