Is Your DNA Making You Fat?

by Deborah Dunham (Subscribe to Deborah Dunham's posts)
Oct 2nd 2009 2:00PM

Photo: Toby Otter, Flickr

There's no question about it. American waistlines are getting bigger every year. With a whopping two-thirds of the population overweight, there has to be a logical explanation, right?

According to one report, blame your parents. The New York Times recently ran an article debunking the fact that healthy diets, exercise and willpower may not be enough to stay slim. Claiming that "body composition is dictated by DNA and monitored by the brain," some researchers think we cannot "will" our way out of obesity.

"Scientists now believe that each individual has a genetically determined weight range spanning perhaps 30 pounds." The Times goes on to state, "The temptations of our environment -- the sedentary living, the ready supply of rich food -- may not be entirely to blame for rising obesity rates. In fact, new research suggests that the environment that most strongly influences body composition may be the very first one anybody experiences: the womb."

While this may be a nice theory for those of us who don't like to exercise and want an easy explanation for why our bodies look the way they do, solely blaming our genes is simply not a valid excuse. Consider this: If obesity rates have been steadily rising, does that mean our DNA is dramatically different now than it was 20 or 30 years ago when obesity rates were much lower? Is the fact that Americans live more sedentary lives now just a coincidence? Why are people in other countries able to maintain much lower obesity rates? Science tells us that our genetic make-up is approximately 96 percent similar to everyone else's, so is that 4 percent the deciding factor between who becomes overweight and who doesn't?

As extreme and controversial as Bob and Jillian from "The Biggest Loser" are, they get dramatic results with a strict diet and exercise regimen -- and they certainly don't let people blame their "bad genes." If you think they've been rude in the past, imagine what kind of Last Chance Workout a contestant would get if he or she tried this excuse!

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Comments (22)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Bill 10-03-2009 @ 2:58PM

Interesting how those genes don't exist in other countries...predominantly in the USA.

Two words...Blame Game. Face facts. As a population we eat too much, and eat the wrong things, and move around too little.

David 10-03-2009 @ 1:19PM

Modern tech. has made most Amaricans fat. Every thing is only a finger touch away.

mary 10-03-2009 @ 2:02PM

A thirty pound swing could make someone overweight, but not obese. I currently weigh 135. If I added 30 lbs, I still would not have an obese BMI.

Lakes 10-04-2009 @ 7:42AM

I blame a lot of weight problems on parents. Look at a fat parent and you will see a fat kid. As a kid my mom raised during the depression always worried about food. People then associated food with love. Be a good girl and I will get you something nice.
For all good kids who finish their meal we have cake . Finish the food or you'll be sent to your room. Kids in third countries are starveing to death. If you don't eat it I will give it to Molly Molligans. And the portions were more then a child needs. I heard them all lol.

Dr. David Robinson 10-04-2009 @ 8:37AM

To answer the title's question, "No! Lifestyle is making folks fat." Let's end the blame game and scientific rationalizations and justifications so those with body fat issues can begin to be self-responsible and pro-active, rather than expanding their excuses for their present body size. DrDavidRobinson4Health.com

loretta 10-04-2009 @ 11:58AM

While I agree that we all need to stop rationalizing, I also believe that we need to understand what is different about our food supply. One hundred years ago, Twinkies were not in the lunch box, nor was Coke or Pepsi a part of the daily diet routine. Children worked mowing the yard, milking the cows, feeding the chickens, or whatever chores mom gave them to do.

Just as there is no single cause, there is also no single answer. I do believe that changes in our food supply and water supply are changing the human animal at a genetic level. We cannot overlook the increased rate of mental illness in this country, or the fact that our collective body weight is raising at a phenomenal rate.

Education, and a change in the American ideal is required before we can ever make the changes necessary to get our society back on a healthy path. Until children return to a lifestyle where playing outside with balls, bikes, skipping rope, and other fun physical activities, they cannot hope to make an overall change in their health. TV, ipods, computers, and other electronic means of entertainment are great innvovations, but like all tools, when improperly used, they cause great damage.

craig 10-04-2009 @ 9:31AM

Americans are just plain lazy. They work shorter hours and have longer school breaks. Kids sit in front of the boob tube with their video games and parents buy a lot of junk and fast foods. Whatever happened to nightly hot cooked meals and home canning???

xxadoringlovexx 10-04-2009 @ 12:18PM

mom makes home cooked meals lol and cans yummy yummy i love the salsa she makes with the veggies we grow. she sent a jar of it along with homemade pickles and MEAT LOAF yes i love the meat loaf lol dna does make some sense tho it determines a lot of diseases why not weight or body type?

sadie 10-04-2009 @ 10:04AM

Actually there IS something to the idea that it is our genes, but it's not what you think. We may have a genetic potential towards obesity, but in the old days we believed that genes were just there and there was nothing we could do about it. Today we know that genes can be switched on an off. So you can have an obesity gene and have it not be switvhed on and you won't have the genetic tendency to become obese. Or the opposite. I'm sure youknow someone out there who eats a lot, isn't all that active and is not obese. They don't have obesity genes. What turns these genes on and off is the type of food we eat. High fructose corn sugar (in almost everything these days) really turns on these genes. So if you have someone who has the genetic potential to become obese and they choose a fast food type diet along with the supersize portions (which is something we did not have years ago) that person is pretty well doomed to become obese. Stick with whole foods.

Richy 10-04-2009 @ 10:35AM

DNA controls cells. Maybe they also control the hunger pangs and how much one eats to compensate.

Denver 10-07-2009 @ 10:37PM

Hooey. Take a look at the photos of Americans who lived in the 1930-1940 years-- they are of predominantly slim men, women and children. Our gene pool hasn't changed just because scientists have discovered how to read it. We are just using the "nature makes me fat" excuse to make too much food, too little excercise acceptable.

Gai 10-05-2009 @ 9:20AM

There is something to this. My fraternal twin sister and I were raised in the same house, eating the same breakfast, lunch and dinner. Took the same dance classes, gymnastic classes and PE classes in school. She taking after my Mom was always 10-25 lbs smaller than I who took after my paternal grandmother. Now we are 44yrs old. I am not obese, cause genetics shouldnt be a give in excuse. But I do know that I have to work twice as hard and watch my diet and excersize my whole life just to stay in an acceptable weight and health zone.

JD 10-04-2009 @ 10:58AM

Exercise and eat right. A multitude of information about obesity and healthy lifestyle exsists so the blame game is obsolete. I've had people come into my pharmacy with McDonalds food in one hand and picking up their diabetes medication in another, only to state that the medication they pick up is used to support their food choices. For them, one obliterates another. We wonder why the health care system is in jeopardy.

SusieQ 10-04-2009 @ 11:57AM

Fat genes or not, it comes down to what we eat and how much excersize we do. I have lost 120 pounds and can tell you it is not easy to maintain. But I refuse to spend the rest of my life out of shape, overweight and a ticking time bomb. If parents continue to feed their kids a diet of garbage, the next generation will be in even worse shape. Think about that America next time you decide to do a quick drive-through a McDonald's. Your not doing your kids a favor and infact are slowing killing them one cheeseburger at a time.

Lynnia 10-04-2009 @ 12:21PM

Okay to start out, I'm fat, no question about that, but I own up. I'm fat because I eat too much. I have poor self control. But I do exercise alot too. While I eat alot I still value my heart.
Personally I find this blame game stupid. There ARE people who have rare diseases that cause them to balloon up without eating much, but they are VERY rare. We just eat too much and too wrong. The reason why people werent fat back when fast food started was because they used healthier products back then. I don't care who you are but 1.) I'm fat because I eat too much, not a gene. and 2.) I'll keep on eating however damn much I want and what I want. No calorie counting unless I'm on a diet.

OWN UP PEOPLE.

m 10-04-2009 @ 1:27PM

Thank you!

Ruth 10-04-2009 @ 12:36PM

I'm 5' 7" and have always been thin--weight from 120-130. However, I've been on Migraine medication and have REALLY added the pounds--I'm 158. Most of the weight has gone to my stomach and hips and it makes me furious!! My medical doctor (headache specialist) told me it was most likely the medicine I'm taking that's adding the pounds. I exercise (cardio and weights) 2 times/wk. and try, in between, to walk in my neighborhood, but the fat "belly" still remains. I'm careful about eating, too, even though I LOVE to cook/bake. Genetics??? I'm not sure!

not fat 10-04-2009 @ 1:28PM

wow. even if you have those "fat genes" you can still do something about it! And even if exercise and eating the right food is, as scientists say, not enough to stay fit. People have insanity in their genes, and sometimes they aren't insane. Know why? It's either medication that their family doesnt use, or its because they don't want to be like that. So they change themselves. You can still do that if you have fat genes. It's not hard. Stop eating unhealthy food and laying around thinking your life sucks. Genes can be changed. Get lipo if you must. Scientists are still trying to figure this out. This will require more tests. In the meantime, get off your butt and get fit! =D

outlawsbebop 10-04-2009 @ 1:44PM

typical american behavior. Blame everyone else for your own incompitence. People are FAT beacuse they eat too much crappy food, dont portion correctly, and they dont exercise. There is NO fat gene. Models are not unrealistic its the rest of the country thats too lazy to do anything good for themselves. I am an average person in college to be just a teacher, and i am ripped. Why? you might ask. Because i work out five days a week and eat six small meals a day. Get your ass off the couch, stop eating potato chips, go outside and run some laps. Running is free, as well as pushups and situps. No excuses!!! Stop blaming everyone else because you have no self control, discipline, nor any self respect.

MaryLou 10-04-2009 @ 1:45PM

I think it is that we are just lazy. I never weighed more than 100lbs. and then I had surgury and was told to do nothing but stay in bed or sit in a chair for six weeks, well guess what, I put on weight and keep doing so. That was 28 yrs ago. I am 5'2" and 74 yrs old. I went up to 170 lbs. Then I went on a good healthy eating plan and lost 32 lbs. Felt great and wanted to loose about 18 more pounds but did not stay on the healthy eating plan and put back on 12 lbs. so I cannot say it is in the genes. It is in the eating habits we form. I was raised to eat properly but forgot to stay with it. Parents today let their kids eat what ever they want. No veggies or fruit and too many processed foods and junk food.

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