Obesity 'may be largely genetic'

lostandconfused · 07-02-2008, 08:46

Quote:

Becoming overweight as a child is more likely to be the result of your genes than your lifestyle, claims a study.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7230065.stm

If that's true, then why has the obesity rate ballooned in the Uk over the past few years, and in the US over the past 10 years, and if you go to a thrid world country there are few if any obese people?

Graham M · 07-02-2008, 09:26

Over-eating? I think it's just saying some people are more prone to gain weight than others, but if you overeat, then anyone will gain weight!

Mr_love_monkey · 07-02-2008, 09:29

Guess it must be genetic really.
After all it's the genes that controls whether or not your mouth-hole is bigger than your bum-hole.

Osem · 07-02-2008, 11:40

Just been listening to a professor on Radio5 explaining that there is no doubt that there is a genetic factor in obesity and that some people have a natural ability to remain lean and others are predisposed in the opposite direction. Of course what's eaten v. how much exercise is taken is also a big factor and in the west where the diet contains a lot of fat, sugar etc. of course there are more fat people than in the third world where a large proportion are malnourished. I have a great many West African friends and obesity amongst the women especially is very common.

Shaun · 07-02-2008, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostandconfused

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7230065.stm

If that's true, then why has the obesity rate ballooned in the Uk over the past few years, and in the US over the past 10 years, and if you go to a thrid world country there are few if any obese people?

Well I guess you still need to eat to become over weight. I guess what they're saying is that when overeating (we all do it) some peoples bodies manage to regulate their weight better than other.

Delta Whiskey · 07-02-2008, 12:10

As I understand it, some people are able to convert food to energy far more efficiently than the normal person can. If they eat the recommended daily calories for their age/gender they will put weight on. The reverse is true of course, some people are poor at converting food to energy so need to eat more than the recommended calories. We all know someone who can eat like a horse and not put any weight on. The trick is to recognize your type and tailor you daily calorie intake to suit.

TheNorm · 07-02-2008, 12:15

It is perhaps worth mentioning that having this "obesity gene" in modern Britain is "a bad thing", but during the stone age it may well have given the person a survival advantage.

So, don't blame your genes - learn to live with them.

Mr_love_monkey · 07-02-2008, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorm

It is perhaps worth mentioning that having this "obesity gene" in modern Britain is "a bad thing", but during the stone age it may well have given the person a survival advantage.

Except when they were running away from dinosaurs.

(yes, I know dinosaurs and man weren't around together)

I just think once again, it's people looking for another reason as to why they are fat - it's not because they over eat and don't exercise - it's because of their genes - no one wants to take responsibility for their own actions.
Yes, you might be more likely to become fat, due to your genetic make up, but you have to give your body a fighting chance - simply sitting there eating lard whilst watching tv is going to make you fat.
People need to excerise, and eat sensible diets.

Osem · 07-02-2008, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

Except when they were running away from dinosaurs.

(yes, I know dinosaurs and man weren't around together)

I just think once again, it's people looking for another reason as to why they are fat - it's not because they over eat and don't exercise - it's because of their genes - no one wants to take responsibility for their own actions.
Yes, you might be more likely to become fat, due to your genetic make up, but you have to give your body a fighting chance - simply sitting there eating lard whilst watching tv is going to make you fat.
People need to excerise, and eat sensible diets.

With all due respect these conclusions are not those of a group of obese people seeking to excuse their eating habits, they're the findings of an independent group of scientists who've done extensive research.

Mr_love_monkey · 07-02-2008, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

With all due respect these conclusions are not those of obese people seeking to excuse their eating habits, they're the findings of a group of medics who've done extensive research.

... and medics are never fat

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that people don't want to take responsibility for how they are - this study will be welcomed with open arms by all the people who want to blame something else for what current shape they are in.

This study is a waste of time, the medics would be better off saying, you're fat because you eat too much and don't exercise enough - yes, your genetic make up doesn't help, but the fact remains you eat too much and do too little - and then using the money they spent on the study giving subsidised gym membership to the most fat people in the area.

**Maggy** · 07-02-2008, 15:48

It's not new but a confirmation of old data.

Personally I'm going to come into my own when global warming takes place and those who have an efficient metabolism will have to work twice as hard finding food.

Me and my fat reserves will get by far better.

Delta Whiskey · 07-02-2008, 15:54

I'm classed as obese, I walk two-three miles every day. Unfortunately for me, if I eat more than 1500 calories a day I put on weight. That's not an arbitrary figure, it's taken years of yo-yo dieting and calorie counting for me to arrive at that amount. Now I know that, I've had to change my eating habits to encompass that fact.

Ramrod · 07-02-2008, 15:55

iirc, it's also to do with how much brown adipose tissue (brown fat) you have on your body....the more, the better

Osem · 07-02-2008, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

... and medics are never fat

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that people don't want to take responsibility for how they are - this study will be welcomed with open arms by all the people who want to blame something else for what current shape they are in.

This study is a waste of time, the medics would be better off saying, you're fat because you eat too much and don't exercise enough - yes, your genetic make up doesn't help, but the fact remains you eat too much and do too little - and then using the money they spent on the study giving subsidised gym membership to the most fat people in the area.

I don't actually disagree entirely with you but I do find the attitude of some (e.g. thin people who smoke like chmneys and can't give it up or who eat too much rubbish, whose cholesterol levels are off the scale and are heading towards just as early a grave as the fatties they despise) to the problems of the obese quite hypocritical.

TheNorm · 07-02-2008, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta Whiskey

... Unfortunately for me, if I eat more than 1500 calories a day I put on weight. ...

I feel sorry for you, as it is difficult to get all your vitamins, minerals and fibre in 1500 calories. This is actually quite a serious problem for the elderly who are housebound - sometimes they can get all their calories from a tin of baked beans, and can end up becoming nutritionally malnourished.