"Destined" to be overweight?

GTOgirl1969

All of the women in my family are overweight. My grandmother died of a heart attack at age 49 and her weight was a big factor. My aunt has Type 2 diabetes, and is also obese. She tried to tell me that I was going to be overweight no matter how hard I try not to be..that I am genetically predisposed to be fat.
Hogwash...I'm not going to buy into that!

GTOgirl1969

All of the women in my family are overweight. My grandmother died of a heart attack at age 49 and her weight was a big factor. My aunt has Type 2 diabetes, and is also obese. She tried to tell me that I was going to be overweight no matter how hard I try not to be..that I am genetically predisposed to be fat.
Hogwash...I'm not going to buy into that!

Shannon023

Like hell! Prove em wrong, GTO!

Helawat

While genetics plays a role in obesity, there are so many more factors that play a role in one's weight. Environment, calorie consumption, behavior, diseases and drugs, among other external factors contribute to weight gain vs. loss.

You inherit more than certain fat genes from your parents, you also inherit poor eating and lifestyle habits. A change in lifestyle can make the difference between being fat because it runs in the family and being the exception.

I believe the "you're destined to be overweight because it's in the family" hogwash is a cop-out for people who refuse to take responsibility for their weight.

Prove them wrong!

References:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/contributing_factors.htm
http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/body_weight/overweight/genetics.htm

beep

There really is something to genetics. In my family, one side tends toward obesity and the other have the thin genes. My sister and one brother inherited the thin genes, they are small boned and tall, and have never had a weight problem, not for a minute. The other half, my brother and I, are large boned and hoard body fat. We have to work at it while the other ones do not have to work at it.

I, personally, am trying very hard not to turn out like one of my great-aunts, who ended up at 400 pounds, while the other great-aunts (the 2 other ones) were very skinny and small boned.

So, are we destined to be overweight??? NO! We are just destined to watch what we're eating and to exercise more than the others.

travelbug

When someone tells me I can't do something that makes me want to do it even more. Of course I did end up skydiving and going to Europe alone, but I did it and loved it. Height you can't do a lot about but your weight and positive attitude are all you! Prove them wrong!!!!!!!