There really is a gene that makes you skinny

Have you ever enviously watched a thin friend, family member or spouse chow down on a decadent dessert while you sip a cup of bitter coffee and wish you didn't have to watch your weight? Have you wondered whey they're so lucky? The answer may be genetic.

A team of researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have found what they believe may be a "skinny" gene. Dubbed "adipose" by a Yale University student who originally discovered it over 5 decades ago, the gene exists in a range of animals and research shows that its presence causes fruit flies, worms, mice and even human cells to bulk up. That's great news for those that carry the gene in times of famine but not-so-great during times of plenty.

According to the article, researchers hope that one day the gene can be used to help develop a cure or treatment for obesity, but until then we all have to keep eating well and working out. Remember too that skinny doesn't necessarily equal healthy so even if you can eat anything you want and not gain weight, a balanced diet with moderate exercise is the way to stay fit.