An Asia-wide study has uncovered the genetic traits that can make Koreans prone to obesity and abnormal blood pressure, offering hope for custom-made treatment for sufferers.

The Center for Genome Sciences at the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday said a genome-wide association study of 10,000 Koreans under way since 2001 found six specific gene configurations that affect blood pressure, pulse and bone density, and the waist-hip ratio that determines obesity.

The findings were published in the Sunday issue of the international journal Nature Genetics.

"An overseas study has found that different prescriptions of anti-cancer medicines for patients with different genetic characteristics increased the effect of the drugs," said Dr. Cho Yun-shin, the study's primary author. "As research develops, it will be possible to prescribe blood pressure medication for those with genetic mutations that cause blood pressure to rise or advise them not to eat salty foods to prevent high blood pressure."