Is WEIGHT GAIN caused by genetics or not? **For my Paper**
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My husband's parents are/were (one is deceased) both obese with type 2 diabetes. Both have/had lived very unhealthy lifestyles with no exercise and terrible diets. Most of his aunts, uncles and cousins are very overweight or obese. My husband is very fit. He eats well and exercises regularly. His sister was very fit until she started working out less and eating the same or more. She blames age but refuses to track her calories and exercise because she knows what she'll see...and doesn't want to see that she needs to make some adjustments. His only fit cousins exercise regularly. It's 100% diet and lack of exercise in his family. Those who workout and eat right are in shape. The rest take their sedentary lifestyle to the extreme and have high weights and many health problems.
This is not to say that some people don't have diseases that cause weight gain. . Just giving feedback of a family with great weight variations that I know well.0 -
I think you were missing the point.
No.If you have an endocrine disorder (PCOS, insulin resistance, diabetes, Hashimoto's, etc.), weight gain still happens even if the person is burning more calories than they are consuming.
If that was the case, these bodies would have solved the world's energy problem by actually creating energy while starving themselves.
In these cases the body burns LESS, but people typically use a generic calculator which doesn't take account of their condition.
They don't realise that their body has a reduced BMR, so continue to eat more calories than their body needs.
The simplest way to work out deficit or surplus in such situations is to average out long term body weight tracking. If it's going up, you are in a surplus, not a deficit. You have more going in than coming out.
I've been at a deficit for the past 3 years and STILL gained weight because of my endocrine disorders. So don't tell me "no." You aren't a doctor. You don't have these disorders and you certainly don't know everything. It IS absolutely possible to gain weight when you are not in a surplus. That's what these disorders do to people. Talk to any endocrinologist. They'll tell you the same thing.
MFP calculates calories as:
Calorie goal = Maintenance calories - deficit + exercise calories
You have a wrench in the equation:
Calorie goal = Maintenance calories x some weird variable caused by disruption to your hormones - deficit + exercise calories.
MFP can't compensate for what your hormones are doing to your maintenance calories. So, according to MFP you're in a deficit, but according to your body you are in a surplus and gaining. It's one of the main reasons that everyone suggests that the online calculators are a good place to start when trying to find your deficit, but you have to tweak the values based on your own body. The best way to find you calories are to accurately log your food, track your progress, and then adjust up or down after 4-6 weeks of good data. Adjust 1-200 calories up or down, see what happens in 4-6 weeks. Repeat as necessary.
No, I understood perfectly. I've been playing with calories for years. I gain eating my TDEE and I gain eating 1200 calories. The only time I don't gain is when I eat under 800 because I am sick. That's simply not sustainable and my endocrinologist said he would never recommend that for me because I only have 40 lbs to lose. If I was heavier, he would recommend it but since I'm not, he doesn't want me doing that.0 -
I read all of your posts. You are correct- medically correct. And that is what I tried to say, but you said it better. Some people are going to count calories, exercise if they are able and still end up gaining weight. Yes there are fewer of us than the general population but it does not make our diseases, therefore nonexistent and or subject to ridicule. I know it is hard to deal with an illness. I sincerely hope you do great with it!
If you have an endocrine disorder (PCOS, insulin resistance, diabetes, Hashimoto's, etc.), weight gain still happens even if the person is burning more calories than they are consuming.
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No.
If that was the case, these bodies would have solved the world's energy problem by actually creating energy while starving themselves.
In these cases the body burns LESS, but people typically use a generic calculator which doesn't take account of their condition.
They don't realise that their body has a reduced BMR, so continue to eat more calories than their body needs.
The simplest way to work out deficit or surplus in such situations is to average out long term body weight tracking. If it's going up, you are in a surplus, not a deficit. You have more going in than coming out.
[/quote]
I've been at a deficit for the past 3 years and STILL gained weight because of my endocrine disorders. So don't tell me "no." You aren't a doctor. You don't have these disorders and you certainly don't know everything. It IS absolutely possible to gain weight when you are not in a surplus. That's what these disorders do to people. Talk to any endocrinologist. They'll tell you the same thing.
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I've been at a deficit for the past 3 years and STILL gained weight because of my endocrine disorders.
You haven't been at a deficit.I gain eating my TDEE
No, you do not.0 -
Only 9 pounds to go? That is amazing. When I was young- in my 20's- I would exercise like for hours a days and eat 400 calories a day. And I was still over weight, but that generations standards. Now, not so much. I was usually between 165 and 180 at 5' 9 eating like that and exercising, I should have been a pick. I passed out to the ground in public a feee times from lack of food. No,800 is not only NOT sustainable, it may kill you. A disorder that causes metabolic issues can go both directions on people. If you are not metabolizing correctly- anything can happen. I am sure you are in a support group on line for your disorder and in those, I have learned a lot about mine. I just know ships go up and down in the water. People with high blood sugar frequently get low blood sugar, as an example. So yes, my young friend, your doctor telling you 800 is too small, well it is way too small. It could lead to other problems. Thank you for posting. You seem like a very intelligent young lady.
If you have an endocrine disorder (PCOS, insulin resistance, diabetes, Hashimoto's, etc.), weight gain still happens even if the person is burning more calories than they are consuming.
[/quote]
No.
If that was the case, these bodies would have solved the world's energy problem by actually creating energy while starving themselves.
In these cases the body burns LESS, but people typically use a generic calculator which doesn't take account of their condition.
They don't realise that their body has a reduced BMR, so continue to eat more calories than their body needs.
The simplest way to work out deficit or surplus in such situations is to average out long term body weight tracking. If it's going up, you are in a surplus, not a deficit. You have more going in than coming out.
[/quote]
I've been at a deficit for the past 3 years and STILL gained weight because of my endocrine disorders. So don't tell me "no." You aren't a doctor. You don't have these disorders and you certainly don't know everything. It IS absolutely possible to gain weight when you are not in a surplus. That's what these disorders do to people. Talk to any endocrinologist. They'll tell you the same thing.
[/quote]
I think you were missing the point.
MFP calculates calories as:
Calorie goal = Maintenance calories - deficit + exercise calories
You have a wrench in the equation:
Calorie goal = Maintenance calories x some weird variable caused by disruption to your hormones - deficit + exercise calories.
MFP can't compensate for what your hormones are doing to your maintenance calories. So, according to MFP you're in a deficit, but according to your body you are in a surplus and gaining. It's one of the main reasons that everyone suggests that the online calculators are a good place to start when trying to find your deficit, but you have to tweak the values based on your own body. The best way to find you calories are to accurately log your food, track your progress, and then adjust up or down after 4-6 weeks of good data. Adjust 1-200 calories up or down, see what happens in 4-6 weeks. Repeat as necessary.
[/quote]
No, I understood perfectly. I've been playing with calories for years. I gain eating my TDEE and I gain eating 1200 calories. The only time I don't gain is when I eat under 800 because I am sick. That's simply not sustainable and my endocrinologist said he would never recommend that for me because I only have 40 lbs to lose. If I was heavier, he would recommend it but since I'm not, he doesn't want me doing that.
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@MrsRatFire, when you quote a post, just go under what pops up in the reply box and type your response up under everything that's already there. I'm having a hard time following all of this. This is a sincere attempt to help; not trying to be rude.0
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I've been at a deficit for the past 3 years and STILL gained weight because of my endocrine disorders.
You haven't been at a deficit.I gain eating my TDEE
No, you do not.
LOL. How the hell are you going to tell me I haven't been at a deficit and I don't gain eating my TDEE when I log EVERYTHING I put in my mouth, weigh everything, wear a pedometer, wear a HRM when I'm working out?
I know what I do every day. You don't. So you are beyond ignorant. When you have spent years in and out of hospitals and doctors offices, seeing every specialist under the sun, having every test performed, having blood work every couple days, collecting 24 hr urine tests, undergoing MRIs, CT scans, x-rays, ultrasounds, colonoscopies, endoscopies, laparoscopies, cancer scares, etc. to find out why you've gained 100+lbs and experience the symptoms I do every day for NO REASON, THEN you can open your mouth. But until then, be quiet because your commentary isn't needed, wanted, or in any way helpful.0 -
Shouldn't you be researching studies and such for your paper? Not asking strangers on the internet for input? Or is your paper going to include responses in regards to what is believed by the population versus facts/studies?0
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And I am happy to tell you, I was a stand-up comic for 15 years. So, it is safe to say, I get a joke. And this joke was as obvious as being run over by a bus. At least you have not been unkind. You are right- many people do not understand genetics. Clearly, you see some of that here. I do support your post as it was just matter of fact and not unkind. I still think the photo marked about genetics was over the top and just the wrong spot for this. But this is not about me having a thin skin. It is about a serious group of diseases that are common and misunderstood by the general public. It touched a lot of nerves here, but you did not. You answered nicely, I am good with it. thanks.
I thought it was a amusing satirical comment which DOES apply to the majority of people it was satirising.
If you're going to get annoyed by that, NEVER go and see a stand up comedian!
(As it goes, I do avoid them generally, they irk me.)
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For now, I am signing off. I will check tomorrow if this was not shut down, and it may have been. I will answer here until it is shut down, which will not take forever. Some of it was very educational, and a lot of it was down right humorous to me. I was especially fond of the insults I got in response to my posts- really, I was- they were so funny. If they keep the post open, go ahead and take another hit if I have got you sawed off. I can't even pay for entertainment like this! Good night!0
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I don't have specific scientific references...but anecdotal.
Both of my parents are overweight. I was overweight as a child. One could have assumed that my weight was due to genetics when I was a child.
However when I left my parents' house and went to college, I lost 60+lbs. I significantly changed the way I ate, and I started exercising on a regular basis at that time. Now at 34, I am a size 4; just around 24% BF.
Personally, I think genetics do play a role; however, I also believe that environment and behavior play a more significant role in obesity. I was not able to alter my genetics, but I was able to alter my environment and behavior, which led to significant weight loss and long-term maintenance of a healthy weight.0 -
I've been at a deficit for the past 3 years and STILL gained weight because of my endocrine disorders. So don't tell me "no." You aren't a doctor. You don't have these disorders and you certainly don't know everything. It IS absolutely possible to gain weight when you are not in a surplus. That's what these disorders do to people. Talk to any endocrinologist. They'll tell you the same thing.
If any doctor seriously tells you that you can eat at a calorie deficit and gain weight (aside from short term water weight), he should immediately lose his medical doctorate as he does not grasp basic scientific principles and is unfit to continue practicing.
Calories are not a magical creature that behaves differently when you add some hormone soup to the mix. Calories are a unit of energy. Full stop. It is literally impossible to burn more energy than you consume and gain mass. It would violate very basic laws of the universe.
If you could prove that you gained weight while eating at a deficit, you would be world famous and win a Nobel prize for documenting it. Unfortunately, nobody who has ever made that claim has managed to prove it.0 -
I've been at a deficit for the past 3 years and STILL gained weight because of my endocrine disorders. So don't tell me "no." You aren't a doctor. You don't have these disorders and you certainly don't know everything. It IS absolutely possible to gain weight when you are not in a surplus. That's what these disorders do to people. Talk to any endocrinologist. They'll tell you the same thing.
If any doctor seriously tells you that you can eat at a calorie deficit and gain weight (aside from short term water weight), he should immediately lose his medical doctorate as he does not grasp basic scientific principles and is unfit to continue practicing.
Calories are not a magical creature that behaves differently when you add some hormone soup to the mix. Calories are a unit of energy. Full stop. It is literally impossible to burn more energy than you consume and gain mass. It would violate very basic laws of the universe.
If you could prove that you gained weight while eating at a deficit, you would be world famous and win a Nobel prize for documenting it. Unfortunately, nobody who has ever made that claim has managed to prove it.
^^^^^This^^^^^^^
The top statement is against the laws of science. Energy always moves it is not created out of nothing. Calories are a unit of energy that are then used in the body, what is not used is stored as potential energy as opposed to kinetic ( I think kinetic is right here).
Energy never stops and is always transfered in one form or another. It would be impossible to create stored energy out of nothing. The person who commented about energy crisis being solved is correct, it would be the largest break through in human existence. Not trying to be mean, but this is literally what my 5th grader is currently studying in science.0 -
Not sure why the OP is asking an internet forum for help in writing an English paper that's more like a science-lite paper...
...but I do find the rest of this discussion sort of interesting. I don't have any idea to what extent genetics plays a role in weight gain / weight loss if at all. I have only ancedotal data and personal biases which aren't worth a nickel. Tagging to read some of the links people are posting later.0 -
I am no expert. I can only tell you what I have seen with my own eyes. I have 3 children. We all eat the same thing except lunch. The kids eat one thing the adults another. My husband is a big guy & always has been. Until my deep lingering depression, I was stick thin everywhere but a big belly only on the front. My mom was stick with a big belly. My husbands grandfather was a big guy. We have two stick kids and one big kid. Seeing as my household eats the same I would say genetics have a lot to do with it.
Side note, None of the kids are in sports or anything like that.0 -
How the hell are you going to tell me I haven't been at a deficit and I don't gain eating my TDEE when I log EVERYTHING I put in my mouth, weigh everything, wear a pedometer, wear a HRM when I'm working out?
Because you would be violating the laws of the universe if what you claim were true. It is *impossible* - you may as well be claiming you have a hammer that, when you drop it, floats in the air.
If your logging is telling you otherwise, there is something wrong with your logging - period. Full stop.
Sorry, but what I'm telling you is the truth.0 -
I haven't done any scientific experiments but I'd be shocked if it was found that genetics wasn't a factor. It's true that it's calories in minus calories out but appetitite and body types are still genetic. And no, I'm not making excuses because I'm 5'11" 175 pounds.Point one: Genetics play a role in an individual’s “ideal weight,” not how much they gain.
Point two: Weight gain is caused by increased caloric intake; if you eat more than you burn, you gain weight, if you eat less, you lose it. Point three: Many people focus on blaming genetics when they do not want to put in the effort it takes to lose weight or to maintain weight loss.0 -
I'm not necessarily saying genetics don't impact in some way but I suppose what I'm saying is people can associate that being the main reason they gain weight, not where they gain it or what have you.
I haven't done any scientific experiments but I'd be shocked if it was found that genetics wasn't a factor. It's true that it's calories in minus calories out but appetitite and body types are still genetic. And no, I'm not making excuses because I'm 5'11" 175 pounds.Point one: Genetics play a role in an individual’s “ideal weight,” not how much they gain.
Point two: Weight gain is caused by increased caloric intake; if you eat more than you burn, you gain weight, if you eat less, you lose it. Point three: Many people focus on blaming genetics when they do not want to put in the effort it takes to lose weight or to maintain weight loss.
@Everyone else- Thanks for your input. Feel free to debate and everything (without getting nasty lol)
And for those telling me to "do my own homework," I am. I'm just getting opinions to justify if this is a debatable topic, which it is. I'm going to find my own sources and what not but I was just seeing if anyone had any other resources, such as the person with FOD. I've never heard of that condition and having them post about it was very helpful as support to the opposing side. It's also interesting to see other peoples opinions and viewpoints.0 -
I've been at a deficit for the past 3 years and STILL gained weight because of my endocrine disorders.
You haven't been at a deficit.I gain eating my TDEE
No, you do not.
LOL. How the hell are you going to tell me I haven't been at a deficit and I don't gain eating my TDEE when I log EVERYTHING I put in my mouth, weigh everything, wear a pedometer, wear a HRM when I'm working out?
I know what I do every day. You don't. So you are beyond ignorant. When you have spent years in and out of hospitals and doctors offices, seeing every specialist under the sun, having every test performed, having blood work every couple days, collecting 24 hr urine tests, undergoing MRIs, CT scans, x-rays, ultrasounds, colonoscopies, endoscopies, laparoscopies, cancer scares, etc. to find out why you've gained 100+lbs and experience the symptoms I do every day for NO REASON, THEN you can open your mouth. But until then, be quiet because your commentary isn't needed, wanted, or in any way helpful.
The point is that your estimated TDEE is wrong. You may be the most accurate logger in the world. You probably are very accurate - you have more reason to be than most of us. But, if your actual TDEE is, for example, 60% of your estimated TDEE and you're eating 80% of the estimated TDEE, again just an example figure, you're unknowingly eating above your actual TDEE and are going to gain weight.
This is of course ignoring water weight. That has nothing to do with TDEE and can be a big factor in metabolic diseases.0
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