New study: Fatness largely determined by genetics

7th February 2008

New study: Fatness largely determined by genetics

posted in Health/Nutrition, New Research |

New research out of the University College London suggests genetics and heritability may account for 77 percent of obesity, while environmental factors make up less than 25 percent. The study appears this month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Researchers there followed 5,092 pairs of twins aged eight to 11 years, born between 1994 and 1996, leading the researchers to conclude:

“Although contemporary environments have made today’s children fatter than were children 20 years ago, the primary explanation for variations within the population, then and now, is genetic difference between individual children.“

It’s important to note here that such “contemporary environments” include a massive rise of the dieting culture, fueled by a growing anti-obesity hysteria. We also have more and more of what Michael Pollan calls “edible food-like substances,” including highly-processed, low-cal, low-fat, low-carb, fat-free and sugar-free diet foods promoted as “healthy,” while a natural and simple potato is demonized.

“These results do not mean that a child with a high complement of ’susceptibility genes’ will inevitably become overweight, but that their genetic endowment gives them a stronger predisposition. In today’s environment - which provides unprecedented opportunities for all children to overeat and be sedentary - it is not surprising these tendencies result in weight gain.

“It is therefore especially important to provide to best possible environment for all children to help protect those who are at higher genetic risk.”

I agree with the doctors - to a point. It is absolutely important we provide children with healthy food and encourage good fitness (although our motivations should be out of concern for good health, not weight-loss). It is absolutely important that parents model healthy relationships with food and weight.

But if a child is genetically predisposed to be fat, the healthiest diet in the world is not likely to alter their body’s setpoint range if it is meant to be fat. Avoiding junk and unhealthy foods may keep a child from gaining more weight, just as chronic starvation can keep a child underweight. But a healthy diet and good fitness will likely result in a child’s weight settling into the healthiest weight range for that child, based on his or her genetic makeup - a weight which may or may not be thin.

There’s a reason our bodies have evolved to weigh what they do, folks. One word: Survival. Instead of fighting and splicing and morphing our genetic compositions, let’s embrace it for the intricate, purposeful and complex evolution it is. I, for one, would rather not embark on that brave new world.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 at 11:10 am and is filed under Health/Nutrition, New Research. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On February 7th, 2008, BigLiberty

said:

What’s a “genetic risk,” anyway? Didn’t the study show that it’s a genetic *certainty*…which is the whole point? :p

It isn’t “genes + lots of food = weight gain,” so the magic formula would then be “genes + skinny kid food = skinny kid.”

How much longer can people blind themselves to the truth by bullshitting and doublespeaking? Don’t they know the jig is up?

I like the “food-like substances” bit. I tend to call them “appetite suppressants in food-like form” or “over the counter hunger suppressants.”

posted on February 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pm

2 On February 7th, 2008, msruth

Dear Rachel, this is off topic, but I’d like to tell you how wonderful I think your blog is and how glad I am you write it. I only found fat acceptance a few weeks ago and I can’t tell you how much it and a couple of other blogs (namely big fat deal and shapely prose) have been helping me change my thinking. I don’t want to be too gush-y but if nothing else the increase in energy I’m getting now I’m starting to reduce the time I spend hating and policing myself are confirm to me how right all of this is and make me grateful it’s around for me to find.

Back on topic, I do find it demoralising that so many article’s get it so nearly right and then cave to their socially condition stereotypes at the final hurdle, so to speak.

posted on February 7th, 2008 at 1:46 pm

3 On February 7th, 2008, Jon B

Agreed on all points! Great comment about why we should focus on health over everything.

posted on February 7th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

4 On February 7th, 2008, Melissa

Genetics definately play a huge role.
I stood in line behind a guy at Subway who ordered a foot long on white with double meat,triple cheese, add two orders of bacon, mayo and no veggies.
He was 5′6″ and maybe 130 pounds!
Here I was ordering a 6 inch on brown with chicken lots of veggies and mustard, and I’m 5′8″ at 200 pounds?
Go figure!

posted on February 7th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

5 On February 7th, 2008, The Ethical Slut

You know, noone will deny that there are genetically skinny people. Hello, I lived in Japan…a good Japanese diet cause me to lose 15 pounds, but I was never going to be 5′5″, 100 lbs, with a tiny, boyish frame, because hey, I’m a big, ol’ Slav, not Japanese.

posted on February 7th, 2008 at 7:50 pm

6 On February 7th, 2008, red_delicious

I always ate healthy as a child, my mother always had home cooked meals rich in nutrients (she’s a health freak) and I was still fat! Oh and she’d lock us out of the house to explore our 100+ acres of land. So it totally makes sense that what your genetic make-up is, even if you eat healthy and exercise regularly, going to determine whether you’ll be fat or thin.

posted on February 7th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

7 On February 13th, 2008, CynthiaC

Remember: People who’re very thin can be “over fat” without being “overweight.” My mom’s weight is normal for her height, but her body fat percentage is higher than it should be for her frame.

posted on February 13th, 2008 at 11:58 am