A scientific study in the UK has found the reason why fat people find it hard to lose weight, its all in the genes. The study was conducted at Imperial college.
Apparently there is a gene sequence linked to an expanding waist line, weight gain and a tendency to develop type 2 diabetes.The new gene sequence sits close to a gene called MC4R, which regulates energy levels in the body by influencing how much we eat and how much energy we expend or conserve. The researchers believe the sequence is involved in controlling the MC4R gene, which has also been implicated in rare forms of extreme childhood obesity.
The study shows that the sequence is a third more common in those with Indian Asian than in those with European ancestry. This could provide a possible genetic explanation for the particularly high levels of obesity and insulin resistance in Indian Asians, who make up 25 per cent of the world's population, but who are expected to account for 40 per cent of global heart disease by 2020.
Last year a British led team found that if people carry one copy of a variant in a gene called FTO, as does half of the general population, it will lead to a gain in weight of 2.6lb or put just over half an inch on their waists and raise their risk of being obese by one third.
If people have two copies of this variant in the FTO gene, which is the case in one in six of the population, then they will gain almost 7lb more than those who lack the variation and are at a 70 per cent higher risk of obesity.
The findings therefore provide a new target for treatment of obesity, namely by attacking the signals and genes in fat cells that control the formation of new such cells.
"Various groups are looking at compounds that might regulate the formation of fat cells but this work is at too early a stage to say when anti obesity drugs based on this understanding will be tested on patients, if at all."
Until a solution can be found it is important if you are finding it hard to lose weight that you work extra hard on weight loss programs to reduce health risks.
David Ogden
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