Obesity 'may be largely genetic'

[Tink]

Becoming overweight as a child is more likely to be the result of your genes than your lifestyle, claims a study.

Their American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that differences in body mass index and waist size were 77% governed by genes.

More on this article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7230065.stm

[HALEY]

Originally Posted by Tink

Becoming overweight as a child is more likely to be the result of your genes than your lifestyle, claims a study.

Their American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that differences in body mass index and waist size were 77% governed by genes.

More on this article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7230065.stm

I really don't believe that, for one, with todays fast life style, and both parents are working, that means more children are eatting fast foods, than home cooked meals, and with all these computer games, more kids are sitting on there butts instead of going outside and playing, there are more overweight kids in the US than ever before and it is scary.

[judy]

It sure is genetic, but I do agree with Haley about lifestyle practices leading to obesity in some cases.

The only thing is that I could eat you all under the table as a kid and was always underweight. I was 89 pounds when I became pregnant at 26. I ate whatever I wanted too, and plenty of it! I gained 10 pounds before I went for my first obgyn appointment. He never knew, so I got away with it!

Both parents were slender, and my Mom was short and petite like I am. My weight is definitely genetic.

[Janet]

I don't believe it either. My grandparents weren't heavy, neither were my parents. Me...that's another story. I just love to eat..period. Hopefully with WW's I can get this weight off.

[Tink]

Hypothyroid runs on our family BIG time.
It not only slows down your metabolism, but drains you of energy as well.

On top of that my Dad was overweight most of his life just as I have been. I am built just like him but with female parts. LOL Dads youngest sister is just 12 yrs older than I am and it's amazing how much she and I look alike! Height, weight, and even facial features. I was walking into a dimly lit building a couple years ago from bright sunlight and her own grown daughter who was inside the building, thought I was her. So yes, I believe there is a strong genetic link... but you can work to lose the weight if you are determined.

I've lost weight, but in order to do it I have to almost stop eating and walk at least a couple of miles a day. I'm simply too lazy and unmotivated to work that hard.

[HALEY]

i still believe it's the life style you choose, my Grandmother was overweight, my mother was overweight, my sister and brother were overweight, now that my mother had a couple of heart attacks, she changed her eatting habit and now is 130lbs, my sister also changed her eatting habits and is down to 120 lbs, my brother also, i don't know what he weighs, and me i'm down to 109 lbs. If you want to drop the lbs. you have to get off the couch and move.. i was way overweight last year at this time 30lbs after having my child, i choose to starve myself cause i just hated myself for being that big, but i was pregnant and didn't was to starve my unborn child so i ate and ate and ate... now i feel so much better. since i lost the weight, i just wish it was summer time so i can go back outside and start walking again...
sometimes you do need help from a doctor like my cousin, she was allergic to almost every food she put in her mouth and needed help from a professional now she has lost 40 lbs and i am so proud of her i tell her that everytime i see her. it is very hard to lose weight i know but you just have to throw away all the junk food and say i'm going to start today...

[Marilyn]

I think it's both, genetics and environment. Genetics affects our metabolism to some extent. I was much like Judy. I ate and ate and did not gain significant weight. People envied me. However, later in life, my metabolism must have slowed down, because if I ate like I used to, I'd be really large.

People used to get outside more, and I do blame television and video games along with the food choices for much of the obesity today. In much of Europe, people walk everywhere they go. In Germany, I saw men in the 60's and 70's out in the country riding their bicycles to get from place to place. People in the cities like Rome and Florence walk everywhere they go, or hop on scooters. They eat healthier foods for the most part and move a lot more than we do and you seldom see an obese person. People could just look at us and see that we were Americans. It was actually a little embarassing. I was slimmer, then, but my family was not. We're all at least a little overweight. Now England was a different story. Their diet and exercise levels are much like ours. Diet may even be a little worse. (Sorry ladies in the UK, from my observation, this is true. Diet and weight loss issues were all over their news, too.)

We've got to get up out of our chairs and get moving!!!!