Not the binge, it’s the gene

New research suggests that the battle of the bulge might be up against an obesity gene

If hours of workout and dozens of diets haven’t made you lose that flab, perhaps you need to blame your genes. A recent study in the United Kingdom has, for the first time, found a genetic link to obesity.

According to the study carried out at the Oxford University, one copy of the gene leads to a 1.2 kg weight increase, while those who had two copies of the gene were 3 kg heavier. The study that was reported in the journal Science says half of the populations studied so far had one copy of the FTO gene, while 16 per cent have two copies. It also said that those who had two copies were 67 per cent more likely to be obese as compared to the others. The gene that is responsible for the production of hormone insulin can also be passed on from father to child, another study in Paris has suggested. It found that children who had inherited a variant of the gene, called Type I, were more likely to be obese. Insulin helps in the processing of fats in the body. If this process slows down, it can lead to obesity.

“It’s significant but it only means that some people may have to exercise more than the others,” says Sakshi Chawla, chief dietician, Fortis. The prescription for good health is still a balanced lifestyle.

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Agrees Dr Anoop Mishra, director for diabetes and metabolic diseases, Fortis. “Obesity is due to many causes, genetics is only one of them. Only a minority, say 1 per cent of the entire obese population has this genetic mutation. In the case of the remaining 80 per cent, diet is the biggest factor,” he adds.

Sometimes obesity can be the effect of five or six such genes combined with a bad diet and lack of exercise. “ If you look at the lifestyle of most people today, one can see that they eat more and don’t get the time to exercise,” says Chawla.

The message: don’t blame your genes and give up on your workout. Instead, adopt a low-carb and low-fat diet. “All your energy should come from fruits and vegetables. Have salads, sprouts, and avoid fried food. Lots of water and liquids are a must. However, fruit juices should be avoided and replaced by fruits high in fibre,” says Chawla.