Do people develop obesity and obesity because of their genes?

How does genetics affect weight??

Overweight is often associated with those with bad genetics. Human genetics determines a whole range of attributes, such as the color of the eyes or the shape of the ears. So far, however, it was still unclear how genetics affects the ability of the body to gain or lose weight.

The scientists at King's College London found in their current research that genetics has only a very small impact on our weight. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "Nature Genetics".

Genetics has only minimal impact on weight gain

Many people today have problems with their weight. Due to a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet, more and more men and women in the western countries are developing overweight or obesity. Often the sufferers push their weight gain then simply on a bad genetics. But according to the latest results of the study, genetics seems to have minimal impact on weight gain.

The study examined 786 participants

In their research, experts at King's College London wanted to find out how the human gut processes and distributes fat in the body. The physicians examined 786 participants in a study of twins.

What did the analysis of stool samples?

The scientists analyzed the stool samples from the subjects and successfully identified biomarkers that indicated an increase in visceral fat around the waist. After analyzing the molecules in stool samples, they concluded that genetics only partially affects weight gain, whereas environmental factors play a much bigger role. Only 17.9 percent of the processes in the intestine could be linked to hereditary factors. In contrast, other factors, such as the diet, but 67.7 percent of the processes in the intestine, explain the scientists.

Change in the intestinal environment can affect the weight

The results of the current study could play a crucial role in the development of treatments for obesity in the future, says study author Dr. Jonas Zierer from King's College London. People can easily change their bowel environment to fight their weight problems. Obesity is thus strongly associated with variable factors, such as diet and microbes in the intestine, Zierer continues.

Diet has the biggest impact on weight

This cohort study on twins has shown how important it is for the health and weight of thousands of different substances produced by human intestinal microorganisms from ingested food, says Professor Tim Spector of King's College London. Knowing that most of our weight can be controlled by our food, rather than by our genes, is great news and opens up many ways to use food as a kind of medicine, the expert adds. (As)