How much of a role does genetics play in obesity? Does inheriting the fat gene make it impossible to achieve a healthy weight?
It's not difficult to imagine that genetics could play a role in making some people prone to a life of obesity. If you look at enough families you will notice that many members of the same family are often obese.
Genetics or Lifestyle
The question remains whether obese families occur because of a fat gene that is inherited or if being overweight is a lifestyle factor. The fact is that even if you have inherited the dreaded fat gene, you can still lose weight and manage your weight by leading a healthy lifestyle. You may not ever be toothpick thin like those with the skinny gene, but you can make the most of the body you've been given.
Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices of Overweight Families
Poor lifestyle choices are likely responsible for overweight families. Families often eat the same foods; celebrate with elaborate buffets and do the same amount of physical activity. A lifestyle full of wrong food choices, huge portion sizes, over-reliance on fast food and limited exercise leads to obesity. Changing the lifestyle will reduce body fat regardless of genetics.
Research on the Fat Gene
Several studies have been conducted to see if there is such a thing as a fat gene. Researchers, including Karen Reue, Ph. D. and professor of medicine and human genes at UCLA wanted to determine if there was a genetic factor that made people predisposed to obesity. What they found was a gene protein called lipin that caused lab mice to gain extra weight. The mice with extra lipin gained twice the amount as mice overfed without the extra lipin. They discovered that fat storage could be attributed to high lipin levels.
Furthermore, people who are unlucky enough to inherit two fat genes from their parents are said to be 70% more likely to be obese.
What is You Have Inherited the Fat Gene
Let's say you have inherited a double set of fat genes and you are more likely to gain weight and become obese. Is there anything you can do about it? While drugs that solve the fat gene issue aren't available yet, there is hope that with these discoveries that progress can be made in that direction. You can, however, make lifestyle changes to stay healthy, lose weight and maintain a healthy weight despite your genes.
Families may be linked by obesity, but much of that is also attributed by the family's lifestyle. Making better choices together can strengthen the family and ensure better quality of life.
University Of California - Los Angeles (2005, January 26). Researchers Discover New Fat
