GENETIC MUTATION SLOWS METABOLISM

Obesity has long been viewed as a controllable condition that results from a combination of laziness and a lack of self-control. Although it is true that eating too much and exercising too little are factors in weight gain, scientific evidence is increasingly pointing to biological contributors as well. Researchers have found a genetic mutation that seems to increase appetite and slow metabolism. Many with this mutation are severely obese by early childhood. Previous research has uncovered several other genes that predispose people to obesity. More… Discuss

 

OBESITY GENE INCREASES HUNGER ( but, let it not get you discouraged!)

Obesity Gene Increases Hunger

Many people still consider obesity to be an issue of self control, but it is actually a complex problem influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics. The FTO geneis known to play a role in the development of obesity, but scientists did not understand just how it did so until now. A new study found that the gene may affect the levels of a hunger-stimulating hormone in the body called ghrelin. Men with two copies of the high-risk FTO gene variant had higher levels of ghrelin in their blood as well as increased sensitivity to the chemical in their brains as compared to men with the low-risk versions. This essentially biologically predisposes them to eat more. More…