I guess for me it comes down to ...so what?

Does having something to blame make me thinner or healthier?

I remember once when Dr Phil was still on Oprah she started to argue the "but some people just have better metabolisms" when he was saying what had to be done to lose weight and he interrupted with "But that ain't you"

No amount of blaming genetics is going to change my genetics so get over it and get MOVING.

Hear, hear, ennay!
I believe there is a genetic pre-disposition to gain weight. I have a great grandmother who was 350 lbs at a time when that was very unusual. Some of the people in my family seem naturally slim, and some of us tend to gain weight easily. There seems to be a switch that goes on around the time of pre-puberty, and we start to crave starchy, sweet and fatty foods.

But then, what does it really matter? I yam what I yam, as Popeye would say, and this is what I have to work with. Blaming it on genetics won't help unless I'm trying to feel better about accepting my size. And I am not going to give up the quest for a healthier me.

BUT...but...b...ENNAY can I BLAME my beer? A whole 12 pack of Heineken Light ended up in my cart today....I have no idea how :shrug:...I gotta drink 'em right? To make room for healthy stuff in the fridge right?

Oh...alllll riiiight....back to the :woops:

I'm not sure whether I'm in a sensitive mood or what, but this kind of irked me.

I found the article interesting, alright? I don't know if I inherited any "fat genes" but I definitely inherited a larger bone structure and the predisposition to storing fat in unfavoring places (belly fat... ewww! it's the first spot I gain and the last spot I lose.)

And FYI, I HAVE gotten moving... A LOT. I eat less than 1,500 calories on most days and exercise around two hours four days a week... the other 3 days, I work out for 30. I've lost 22 pounds in 2.5 months, so I must be doing *something* right ;)

I am interested in knowing more about genetic components of obesity. I am not looking for anything or anybody to take the blame for my obesity. I am not looking for a way to avoid the work involved in weight loss. I don't have to blame anyone INCLUDING myself, in order to make changes in my life.

Of course, being adopted, I am curious as to what I have inherited, though I may never know. I've been morbidly obese since age 5, and have had this ever present insanely intense hunger that no one else in my family appears to have. Of course, I wonder if that kind of hunger is a genetic trait. Many doctors believe that it is. I think it's ridiculous to assume that anyone interested in learning more about genetic factors must not be not taking active measures to lose the weight or otherwise needs to "get over it." This is legitimate science. Genetic research has lead to greater advances in health care, not fatalistic "you inherited it, there's nothing you can do about it," thinking.

I think a lot of this boils down to wanting to look at obesity as a defect of character and morality, rather than a health problem. No one would tell a diabetic that learning about the genetic component of their disorders would give them a reason to stop taking their medication, watching their diet, exercising and generally looking after themselves.

We're fat, not stupid.

Good morning! :wave:

I don't think that ennay was making a personal remark toward anyone--she was simply saying that even if there are genetic causes, the solution is pretty much the same. I'll grant that the wording could have been softened a bit.

Let's all play nice now. ;)

Jay

When I'm stressed, I vary between the two extremes: I either don't eat a thing or I eat WAY too much... at least that is how it used to be. I, too, replace eating with exercise, and if I MUST eat, I'll have some veggies with lowfat dip.

My girlfriend is the same way... she wavers between eating next to nothing to binging on the entire world when she is stressed. The thing is, since she does not have a weight problem, she can eat 1,800 calories a day (around there), do nothing, and still not gain an ounce. Some days, she will eat over 2,000 (yeah, I've observed! her thinness baffles me sometimes! haha) but other days, she will barely reach 1,400. And this is why she doesn't gain...

It's really just how your body works, isn't it? I read an article once where doctors were studying caloric intake between sets of people of roughly the same height, same caloric intake, approximately the same amount of activity in a day, yet one person was a lot heavier than the other. Why? Genetics obviously, I would say.

Overweight tends to run in my family, too. My mom has struggled with weight for most of her life, and her mother, my grandma went through periods when she was quite big. That said my aunt has always been thin and her daughter (my cousin) is fairly thin as well.

Who knows why? It is how it is. I am sure that genetics does play a part to some extent but, hey.

Weirdly I find because of those women as role models I do not WANT to be 'too small' because I think it looks unhealthy. My mom now is a pretty nice size but occasionally she will diet herself down to what is probably a 'normal' weight but I don't think she looks good then - I think it that when she gets 'too skinny' she looks older and more fragile. Similarly when my grandma died I had a dream about her and in the dream I thought she looked a lot healthier - mainly because she was about 10-15 lbs heavier in the dream than she had been when she died (at a 'normal weight.' )

So that attitude is obviously a learned one.

It's interesting - but I worry if I dwell too much on 'I was born to be fat' etc. it will be come a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The fact remains, we can still lose weight. My whole family was obese, but I chose not to sit on my rump and say it was genetic, I couldn't do anything about it. I have to work a little harder, but I lost it and have kept it off.

I don't think anyone is saying it can't be changed. I'm not sure why that argument is used so often, because I've not heard any of the researchers or anyone with common sense even suggesting that. People can use their upbringing just as easily as their genes if they want to make excuses.

I think some people resent the implication that it might be more difficult for some people to lose weight than others. Though most of us who've dieted more than once, knows it's never easy, but the fact is it is easier for some people than it is for others. That's not rocket science that's just life.

Genetics, economics, environment, physiology, gender, age, medications and medical history, injuries.... they all can contribute to the fact that weight loss isn't a level playing field. Not everyone will have the same experience with needing to lose weight or being able to lose it if they do.

While exercise and restricting calories is the only way to lose weight, we know the relationship isn't a perfect one. We can't tell a person of any given weight that they will lose x number of lbs if they do y amount of exercise on z amount of calories.

How genetics plays into the mix is just one question that should be investigated. I've heard people argue that there isn't a need to do any research on obesity, because we all "know the answer" to eat less and exercise more, but the apalling "success" rate of dieting proves that the solution may be simple, but it isn't easy. Any information that can help is valuable.

As an example, there seems to be a link between sleep deprivation and weight gain. Hey, that's interesting, and can be used as a tool. It's also information that would never be obtained if everyone believed there is no need for obesity research because the problem is simple, or out of fear that some people may misuse the information.

Colleen, you rock. <3

I TOTALLY agree with you.

It doesn't really matter what is 'genetic' and what isn't (as it relates to the excess weight that most of us carry. A very few % of the severely morbidly obese probably do have some sort of genetic issue that's worth studying and discussing.)

"Genetically" we haven't changed in the past hundred years, so to say that the current epidemic of 'overweight' is 'genetic' makes no sense. Zero. Just because you have a genetic predisposition for cancer, diabetes, etc, doesn't mean you'll develop it...and the same goes for 'obesity.'

What 'has' changed is the quality of our food supply, the quantity that we consume, and the amount of physical activity we (don't) get.

There are VERY few people who would still be 'obese' if they exercised 30 minutes a day 5 days a week, ate the # of calories required to maintain their weight, and ate nutritious food. You might still 'weigh more' or 'be bigger' than your 'friend who eats the same thing', but that's human nature, and certainly nothing to get bent out of shape about.

If you want to study something...study a population of people who are still 'obese' despite following all of the guidelines for healthy living for extended periods of time.

Personally, I think that if all fast food restaurants closed for a year, and all packaged food were banned, along with televisions...most of us would lose weight, even if people made no other conscious changes on our own.

I don't think anyone 'resents' the implication that it might be more difficult for some than others. I think that they resent the fact that some people suggest that it's EASY for other people.

No one who has successfully lost weight had an 'easy' time of it. The weight didn't 'easily' or magically melt off. When you read their stories it clear: They put in a LOT of effort - PERIOD. So it's so insulting to say, "Well, it was 'easy' for you. If they resent anything, THAT'S what they resent. (And to be honest, I don't think people who have successfully lost weight have any resentment at all in this area...they've got better things to do. I'm always struck by how 'positive' they seem to be compared to the negativity by some still struggling with weight.)

Anyone who thinks weight loss for ANYONE is 'easy' has bigger issues than 'genetics'.

Rather than writing off other people as 'being lucky', and accusing them of being 'resentful', take the time to really study what they did to reach their goals... Don't take their suggestions to eat less and move more as 'blame', take it as 'good advice', and try it (not for 2 weeks, but for a year).

When I read other people's stories, I always find myself thinking, "wow, she really put in a lot of work." (typically more than I did on my last attempt.)

Speaking of which, I need to get off of my butt and work out...talk is cheap ;)

I did not find this article candy-coated at all. It seemed very balanced
and the focus was not, in any way, a push to accept obesity because of genetics. Rather that scientist are finding more genetic factors than they anticipated, and the article was actually more focused on how some people manage to stay thin in a "fat" world, a world where obesity is becoming epidemic. What is unusual about these people. Wow, it doesn't seem to be will-power and commitment, as much as what "comes natural" to these people. Well, what do you know, slap me on the butt and call me Sally!

“At the end of the day, we have to tell people to try harder,” Froguel said. “But we have to recognize that things are more difficult for some people than for others and it’s not because they are weaker by definition.”

Yes, try harder. You're not a freak or a loser, you are not imagining things, there are naturally slim people in this world, and you ain't one of them. You actually do have to work harder than those "naturally slim" folks. Buck up and do it.

I have to wonder if everyone posting has even read this article. If so, it doesn't seem like we've read the same article.