Why do some people struggle with their weight, while others seem to be able to eat anything and stay thin? Researchers at Cambridge University have recently tried to answer this question. In the largest study of its kind they discovered that indeed thin people can be at an advantage at a genetic level compared to their overweight and obese counterparts.
More than sixty per cent of adults in the UK are either overweight or obese and this is causing an ever increasing strain on our health and leading to record amounts of people with type 2 diabetes and other medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke. This in turn is costing the NHS billions of pounds a year to treat these people and medicate their conditions.
Although we indeed can be a product of our own environment and in the last 25 years or so, the availability and the disgusting amount of different food choices which are high in sugar and fat has grown enormously out of all proportion it seems that some people can still maintain a healthy weight while others struggle.
More than sixty per cent of adults in the UK are either overweight or obese and this is causing an ever increasing strain on our health and leading to record amounts of people with type 2 diabetes and other medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke. This in turn is costing the NHS billions of pounds a year to treat these people and medicate their conditions.
Although we indeed can be a product of our own environment and in the last 25 years or so, the availability and the disgusting amount of different food choices which are high in sugar and fat has grown enormously out of all proportion it seems that some people can still maintain a healthy weight while others struggle.
The researchers compared DNA from 14,000 people of which 1,622 were thin, 1,985 were severely obese and 10,433 were a healthy weight. They also asked participants to answer questions regarding their general health and lifestyle.
The study found several common genetic variants already identified as playing a role in obesity as well as discovering new genetic regions involved in severe obesity and some involved in healthy thinness. Importantly those who were thin carried fewer genes that were found to increase a person's chances of becoming over weight.
Although this is really interesting stuff and maybe in the future scientists could use this information to come up with a plan to help combat obesity by targeting these so called 'fat genes' in some way, I am worried that this could be used as an excuse by some to take the responsibility of weight management away from them.
I believe that we are all prone to weight gain living in this modern environment of fast foods and high fat and sugary meals and treats but unfortunately some do find it harder to control their weight than others. However I believe we all have a role to play and can take responsibility for our weight management regardless of our genes.
What do you think?
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