Most people see an obese person and think that they over eat and don't exercise enough and, in some cases they would be right. However, not all obese people suffer from being lazy and lie around eating everything and anything they can get their hands on. Throughout the decades when scientists have compared the diet of an obese person to that of a lean person, there weren't many differences - in what or how much they were eating. In fact the one BIG unresolved question is why do some people get fatter than others when eating and moving the same?
Yes there are cases of hyperthyroidism where people with an overactive thyroid tend to be thinner and burn all they eat, or the contrary where hypothyroidism means a slow working thyroid gland that means a person gains weight. Both conditions are a problem and have other health problems associated.
But there are people who are healthy but have a tendency to put on weight with frightening ease.
Back in 2007 the FTO gene was discovered.
Fat mass and obesity-associated protein also known as alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase FTO is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the FTO gene located on chromosome 16 - certain variants of the FTO gene appear to be correlated with obesity in humans. (Wikipedia)
The discovery of this gene challenges the notion that people get obese out of choice because theychoose to eat too much and not exercise. However, it's not all as clear as it seems, the FTO gene was discovered in 44% of Europeans but only 5% of blacks, meaning that other genes are clearly at work and food and exercise ALSO play an important part in maintaining a healthy weight.
Fortunately scientists have identified a "switch" to turn off the FTO gene. Harvard and MIT researchers managed to block the gene's effect in mice and found that the mice became 50% leaner than other mice even though they were eating a high-fat diet. Those mice also burned more energy while sleeping. The same experiment on human cells found that energy burning in fat cells was increased resulting in less fat being stored.
However, Manolis Kellis a professor at MIT stressed that the FTO gene does not automatically make a person obese, it just made it more likely. The researchers went on to say that they did not know how long it would take to develop an effective treatment for obesity and also said that they doubted there would ever be a pill that would let people eat whatever they wanted and not gain weight.
Also, any drug would need rigorous testing as it would likely have a knock-on effect on other areas of the body. However, this is big news with a lot of potential for helping the obesity epidemic.
I can help you improve your health. If you would like to make an appointment with me either in person or via Skype, just send me an email to lucycarr@socialnutrition.com
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