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Consumer Affairs

Obesity May Be In the Genes After All

New research shows eating too much, exercising too little not the only causes of obesity

10/11/2010 | By | ConsumerAffairs.com | Weight Loss
Obesity might, in fact, have causes other than eating too much and
exercising too little.

Another scientific study - this one published in the journal Nature
Genetics - suggests an individuals genes appear to play a role in
obesity risk. The findings are reported in two new studies published
in the Oct. 10 online edition of Nature Genetics.

In one report, researchers say they have identified 18 gene
variants linked to obesity and confirmed the involvement of 14 others.
In a separate report, the researchers said they found 13 gene variants
that appear to direct fat to the belly or thighs.

The study was conducted by a team from the Genetic Aetiology of
Obesity Program in the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the Institute of
Metabolic Science, in Cambridge, in the UK.

Just because an individual has those genes doesn't necessarily mean
they will be obese, however. The researchers say their work does not
identify exactly how these genes work to promote obesity.

Previous research

Researchers have been studying possible genetic links to obesity
for a number of years. In 2007, Oxford University scientists reported
that people who inherit a certain gene are up to 70 percent more
likely than others to be obese. They say one in six people may have
this unusual genetic makeup and have as much as 15 percent more body
fat than people without the gene variation.

Earlier this year, scientists at Johns Hopkins reported finding 13
genes they said were linked to human body mass.

Obesity is defined as having too much body fat. It is different
from being overweight, which means weighing too much. Both terms mean
that a person's weight is greater than what's considered healthy for
his or her height.

Being obese increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke,
arthritis and some cancers. If you are obese, losing even 5 to 10
percent of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases,
according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases.

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