The article also discussed how genes affect your fat storage and ability to gain or lose weight. In the past, natural selection was in the favor of humans with slow metabolism because they would be able to survive longer when food was difficult to find. Now these genes are leading to the rise in obesity and poor health in our society because food is now readily available and excessive caloric intake is becoming more and more common. In a recent study twelve pairs of twins were overfed for 100 days, and the results were very surprising. The range of weight gain was from 9.5 pounds to 29.3 pounds, and some individuals stored nearly all of it in their abdomen while others stored it evenly throughout their body.
Although this research seemingly dooms certain individuals to obesity and lackluster results at the gym, it shouldn't stop them from trying to stay fit and healthy anyway. The article mentions that no one has perfect genes and that working hard can help even the odds of any genetic disadvantage. You may not look like Mr. Olympia after a year, or even after ten, but working out will always yield beneficial effects.
I'm so tired of people blaming genes for obesity. Not this many people were obese fifty years ago or during the Great depression and it's not like it's only obese people who are reproducing. Sure, genes may play a role, but it is a new outbreak, not a genetic one, unless they are suddenly mutating. Money is wasted on this kind of research when it could be better used elsewhere. All it does is play into the excuse of fat people that it's not their fault. It's completely fueled by the multibillion dollar diet industry looking for a very expensive magic pill. I'm not afraid to say any of this because I was fat and lost it, so bring it on.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with clarkj. My family came from Sicily in the 70's. They were paper thin and then got introduced to America's food. Well.. let's just say.. I don't want to look like them. You can say genes are to blame but we all know that diet and excercise are key. I'm a little on the fuller side but I joined a gym and am watching what I'm eating. I'm a girl who weighs 148 lbs and I'm not afraid to admit it but in high school I was 118 lbs (that was four years ago with no excercise and poor diet). I had lost weight and if I keep that up, genes or not, I'll be looking good!
ReplyDeleteWell I didn't mean to imply that genes are the only reason why people become obese, it was just a catchier title than "Not seeing results at the gym? Genes could be one of the multitude of explanations." My point in the article and in the research is that excessive caloric intake is a lot more punishing to some individuals than others. People should never solely blame their genes because they need to be eating excessively or poorly before their genetics affect how the excess will be handled. As far as the increase in obesity lately, there are quite a few factors. During the great depression most of the jobs in America involved some form of manual labor while technology today has created an almost entirely sedentary workforce. The same can be said for children who watch TV and play video games rather than playing outside with the neighborhood kids. There has also been a cultural shift in the way we eat with the rise of fast food and sit-down restaurants. Families used to eat homemade meals 7 days a week, where now they replace a majority of those meals with high-fat, sodium, and calorie alternatives from these restaurants.
ReplyDeleteArticles like this try to shed light on an issue, such as obesity that have so many other factors but only show that of genetics. I also agree that obesity is caused by genetic factors but if the factor has such a health risk why would anyone just sit back and let genes take control. If a person states 'their is nothing i can do because i inherited this trait' please smack them. They can stop themselves from putting the pound of fries in their mouth or increase the amount of exercise they do by just walking. Do you think over the next few years if a person with obesity inheritance becomes physically fit do you think there children will become obese? What happens if the cycle continues where the child eats healthy and stays fit? Do you think obesity will continue its inheritance in future generations? I believe it starts at home with the family if your family eats junk you eat junk.
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