FTO - This Gene Can Make You Overeat

Ever feel like you just can't stop eating junk food no matter how much your willpower tells you to stop for the love of Pete? Yeah, I know the feeling. But don't feel too bad about it -- it might be in your genes.

A version of a gene called FTO is believed to cause some people to eat, on average, 100 extra calories per meal. And now for the really unfortunate news: It's estimated that two-thirds of us are affected by FTO. And those with it are 30 percent more like to be obese. No wonder -- those extra 100 calories can really add up -- to about 2,100 calories a week to be precise.

The good news? This gene discovery could help scientists figure out just how to control this obesity epidemic of ours. A pill that would allow me us to eat as much chocolate cake a la mode as we want without gaining a pound sounds pretty perfect, don't you think?