A common gene variant may be the reason some people are prone to gain weight and find it more difficult to lose.
A study by UK researchers shows that an obesity gene, FTO, is the reason so many people are overweight. People with a common variant of the FTO gene tend to accumulate more fat.
“Perhaps being fat, for many people, is more to do with the way you were born, rather than the way you conduct your life.” (Medical News Today)
News about the fat gene makes sense for a lot of people who have been deemed lazy even though they can’t lose weight despite their best effort at diet and exercise. This study says that it isn’t your fault you are fat; it is in your genes.
While this takes some of the blame away from obese individuals, it should not be used as an excuse to overeat or slack off on their exercise program. Consuming too many fat grams, too many calories, and simple carbs while leading a sedentary lifestyle will affect your weight with or without this gene variant.
The study on the obesity gene and the idea of being born with a greater likelihood of getting fat brings hope for new weight loss drugs that can target this gene and reverse the affect.
