Feb 07 2008
Obesity linked to genes
Feb 7: According to a new study conducted by the University College, London, obesity in young age is linked to genes rather than lifestyle. Twin studies are the ideal way to find the extent of genes or the impact of environment on our development. Owing to the similarity in the time of birth and similar way of upbringing identical twins have exactly same genes composition.
“Over 5000 pairs of identical and non-identical twins were considered for the study. It found that the difference in the body mass and waist size were 77% decided by genes.
Blaming parents for the child’s excess weight is not fair as it is linked to the genes of the child. The overweight children are more likely to be overweight in their adulthood, which makes them vulnerable to diseases like heart diseases, cancers, stroke and diabetes. But the extent to which we are pre-programmed to be overweight is still not clear,” said Professor Jane Wardle of University College London, who conducted the study.
While commenting on this Tam Fry of Child Growth Foundation said: “This enables scientist to access the differences in weight and calculate the influence of environment though it fails to identify the specific genes that is linked to obesity. The influence of the genes that determine obesity can be overcome by working hard and maintaining healthy diet.”
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