Born Fat | Suite101.com

Posted by
Tracy Rose
Jul 24, 2007

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.

Oct 7, 2008 5:34 PM

Guest :

100% correct... Why???

I'm from a family of 3... I have an older brother and older sister, both (like most Americans) are overweight... I on the other hand have ALWAYS been skinny since I was a kid.

From an early age, my sister (who is now in her late 40's) had a weight problem. She tried EVERY diet you can imagine but NOTHING works. She will ALWAYS put on weight and be fat.

I on the other hand, have eaten whatever I like including fattening foods like cake, candy, etc. I eat a Big Mac from McDonalds at least 4 times a week. I eat Fast Food like crazy... since I was a child. I have ALWAYS been skinny. Even today, I am 36 years old, 5 foot 6 inches high, I just weighed myself, I currently weigh 152 lbs. I'm thin and very healthy.

This (in my openion) PROVES that some people are just BORN fat and society is just prejudice against them... Just like Beautiful people are treated better, fat people are treated bad for something they cannot help.