I read an interesting piece today about a genetic component to being thin and weight gain. I found it interesting because the study that found this gene is a study I have been part of. Biobank. The study is far ranging and has been ongoing for at least 10 years. It looks into diet, lifestyle, some medical type investigations-MRI scans, body measurement etc. of thousands of people who joined up, all those years ago.
Anyway, there seems to be a gene that about 6% of the population have that regulates appetite and weight gain. The lucky lucky 6% can eat exactly what they like and stay the same weight. The others, myself included, have the dice stacked against them as far as weight is concerned.
This makes some sense to me. We all know the skinny minnies who can eat tons and never gain an ounce. And we all know those that regulate their weight constantly with huge effort. We also know those, like me, who struggle to loose weight, can not afford to relax one moment yet still, over time, find that that dial go ever upwards.
The study, I'm sure, doesn't recommend that people without the gene shrug their shoulders and say, what the heck, pass the doughnuts. But maybe an understanding that our genetic background plays a part and that those souls lacking the gene are fighting an uphill battle, forever.
I know that some of the responses here will advocate eat less and move more, and they are right. But a little understanding of the forces of genetics and learned behaviour would be welcome. Not all fatties are eating lard sandwiches and drinking tea with 4 sugars.
Just saying.
