Overweight? Maybe Your Genes Really Are at Fault

[YankeeFan]

I'm not sure what to think of this article. They quote four people, and not one is a woman.

I hope it doesn't end up on the front page.

The mice were eating their usual chow and exercising normally, but they were getting fat anyway. The reason: researchers had deleted a gene that acts in the brain and controls how quickly calories are burned. Even though they were consuming exactly the same number of calories as lean mice, the mice were gaining weight.

So far, only one person — a severely obese child — has been found to have a mutation in the same gene that completely disables it. But the discovery of the same effect in mice and in the child — a finding published Wednesday in Science — may help explain why some people put on weight easily while others eat all they want and seem never to gain an ounce. It may also offer clues to a puzzle in the field of obesity: Why do studies find that people gain different amounts of weight while overeating by the same amount?

nyti.ms/1bLOQoo

 

[LongTimeListener]

No kidding. Women are 3.4 times more likely to be worried about their weight, too.

 

[Mark2010]

I have no doubt that genetics play a role.... as they do in so many things. So I suspect it's a combination of genetics and behavior. I gave up on both some time ago and decide to embrace whoever I am, regardless of the number on the scales. Much happier.

 

[Lieslntx]

Quote from a woman. I am "this" big around ('this' being tiny). And then ... WHOA! I gained 40 pounds. Took me forever to lose 20 of those pounds.

Yes, genetics plays a HUGE part in this. I eat (mostly) what I want. I don't exercise.

I changed things after turning 45, but still. Yes. Genetics.

 

[Tarheel316]

I blame soccer.

 

[Lieslntx]

Me. too.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

I have no doubt genetics play a role, but I'm not inclined to believe that they are solely responsible for obesity. I'd think diet and lifestyle are larger factors that are made worse by the presence of this genetic predisposition.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I suspect it's a combination of genetics and behavior. I gave up on both some time ago and decide to embrace whoever I am, regardless of the number on the scales. Much happier.

I am happier with who I am when I'm a lean, mean, ass-kicking machine.

I've said this on here many times. I was a chubby kid my whole life. Chubby young adult, as well. I could have been the poster child for blaming it all on genetics. At one point, I was 5-foot-9, 215. I think I was 26 or 27 years old at the time. Today I'm 36 and weigh in the 145-150 range.

Obviously genetics play a role.

You should rage against them anyway.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Agree with ****. Genetics also says some people's hearts shouldn't last past 60. Doesn't mean you plan your funeral.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Yay.

 

[dog eat dog world]

Who cares about this topic when discussion doesn't take into account the full range of genetic predispositions?

 

[Mark2010]

Agree with ****. Genetics also says some people's hearts shouldn't last past 60. Doesn't mean you plan your funeral.

Actually planning your funeral is pretty damn smart. Can save thousands of dollars, as I learned when I had to do one for a family member on short notice. I'm getting pre-need funeral arrangements done for self and rest of the family before the year is out.

It's one of the few things in this world you KNOW you will use sooner or later.

 

[HejiraHenry]

Gary Taubes covers similar previous research in both of his nutrition-related books, so it's not like this is some out-of-the-blue discovery, except perhaps to an underinformed newspaper writer.

 

[JayFarrar]

What's weird, to me, is that every single one of us accepts the premise that some people are just naturally gifted athletes or that some people are just born skinny or that some people have these crazy high metabolisms that keeps them skinny.

But if you say some people are born fat and stay that way, that premise can't be accepted.

It is, fat people can get skinny as long as they work out and don't eat 20 Twinkies every day.

That argument is likely to be led by a fat person who is now skinny.

Weird.

 

[BTExpress]

But if you say some people are born fat and stay that way, that premise can't be accepted.

Sure it can be accepted: For the 0.004%* of people who truly fit that description.

Not for the 63.6%* of overweight people that would love to claim it, however.

And no matter how "gifted" these athletes are, it means nothing without the tens of thousands of hours they devote to honing their gifts. Success in most things takes a lot of work and discipline.

The not-so-gifted athlete has to work harder to beat the gifted one. And we've seen many times that he does.

The "born overweight" person has to work harder to maintain a healthy weight. And for all but the unkucky .004%*, they can do it, too.

* Percentages pulled completely out of my ass