Overweight attributed to genetics???

BeautyFromPain

They do one of the 3
eat to much
exercise to little
Lie about wehat they eat

No Human can fight the law of energy in / energy out.
Even people claiming thyroid problems, It only accounts plus around 10 pounds the rest is over eating.

Actually...Heard of cortisol?

I could be wrong here but doesn't elevated cortisol potentially impact metabolism, getting back to the energy in/energy out equation. The energy out may change but the equation does not.

Well considering a lot of people don't even know that they have high cortisol levels, therefore a lower metabolism. Plus, if you do have something like high cortisol how do you find out what your metabolism actually is?

Sorry, I am confused as to how not knowing that you have it changes the basic formula. Yes, it may be harder to determine the reasons, but the fact is, your metabolism is lower.

Also, one thing I am not sure whether it is genetic or not - I thought very elevated cortisol levels were more environmental

They are. Your point?

Yeah but what I am asking is how you get your metabolism checked without having to pay $$$$$$ amount of money.

My point is, this thread is about genetics and I was asking a question as to whether it was. That is all, so no attitude is really necessary.

And where did you ask what you say you asked? I am not seeing it. You did not ask how to test it without having to pay any money at all.

ETA: In response to your question re getting an RMR test done at least cheaply, I believe that I have heard of some colleges and universities possibly doing them for at least a lot less money - you should also check those out to see if they do them (and even possibly teaching hospitals)

I never said I wanted it done for free, just not necessarily hundreds of dollars.

Sarauk2sf

They do one of the 3
eat to much
exercise to little
Lie about wehat they eat

No Human can fight the law of energy in / energy out.
Even people claiming thyroid problems, It only accounts plus around 10 pounds the rest is over eating.

Actually...Heard of cortisol?

I could be wrong here but doesn't elevated cortisol potentially impact metabolism, getting back to the energy in/energy out equation. The energy out may change but the equation does not.

Well considering a lot of people don't even know that they have high cortisol levels, therefore a lower metabolism. Plus, if you do have something like high cortisol how do you find out what your metabolism actually is?

Sorry, I am confused as to how not knowing that you have it changes the basic formula. Yes, it may be harder to determine the reasons, but the fact is, your metabolism is lower.

Also, one thing I am not sure whether it is genetic or not - I thought very elevated cortisol levels were more environmental

They are. Your point?

Yeah but what I am asking is how you get your metabolism checked without having to pay $$$$$$ amount of money.

My point is, this thread is about genetics and I was asking a question as to whether it was. That is all, so no attitude is really necessary.

And where did you ask what you say you asked? I am not seeing it. You did not ask how to test it without having to pay any money at all.

ETA: In response to your question re getting an RMR test done at least cheaply, I believe that I have heard of some colleges and universities possibly doing them for at least a lot less money - you should also check those out to see if they do them (and even possibly teaching hospitals)

I never said I wanted it done for free, just not necessarily hundreds of dollars.

You never said anything about money at all until the post with the 'your point'. Anyway, I tried to give you some suggestions of where to look.

ETA: I looked at ones in my local area and they cost around $50.

BeautyFromPain

They do one of the 3
eat to much
exercise to little
Lie about wehat they eat

No Human can fight the law of energy in / energy out.
Even people claiming thyroid problems, It only accounts plus around 10 pounds the rest is over eating.

Actually...Heard of cortisol?

I could be wrong here but doesn't elevated cortisol potentially impact metabolism, getting back to the energy in/energy out equation. The energy out may change but the equation does not.

Well considering a lot of people don't even know that they have high cortisol levels, therefore a lower metabolism. Plus, if you do have something like high cortisol how do you find out what your metabolism actually is?

Sorry, I am confused as to how not knowing that you have it changes the basic formula. Yes, it may be harder to determine the reasons, but the fact is, your metabolism is lower.

Also, one thing I am not sure whether it is genetic or not - I thought very elevated cortisol levels were more environmental

They are. Your point?

Yeah but what I am asking is how you get your metabolism checked without having to pay $$$$$$ amount of money.

My point is, this thread is about genetics and I was asking a question as to whether it was. That is all, so no attitude is really necessary.

And where did you ask what you say you asked? I am not seeing it. You did not ask how to test it without having to pay any money at all.

ETA: In response to your question re getting an RMR test done at least cheaply, I believe that I have heard of some colleges and universities possibly doing them for at least a lot less money - you should also check those out to see if they do them (and even possibly teaching hospitals)

I never said I wanted it done for free, just not necessarily hundreds of dollars.

You never said anything about money at all until the post with the 'your point'. Anyway, I tried to give you some suggestions of where to look.

ETA: I looked at ones in my local area and they cost around $50.

Thanks, I'll keep looking but right now I can't find any in Canberra :S

Oishii

I think the role of genetics in weight loss is very interesting, and I think it helps to think how certain genes are passed on and others aren't.

A gene will only be passed on if you have children. In some communities, past or present, an inability to store energy from a meagre supply of food would have meant certain death in a time of famine, without reaching the age to procreate, whereas in other communities where food was abundant, whether or not fat was easily stored would have made no difference and all variants would have survived to have children with the same gene. THIS is where human history becomes involved and ethnicity has a role to play.

It seems that my (Northern European) ancestors had it pretty easy, as my maintenance calories are waaaaay above those anyone would predict.

Body shape and fat distribution, however, does not normally contribute to whether you can have children, as the cardiovascular problems, experienced more by 'apples' than 'pears' , normally only manifests itself after childbearing age. The less healthy apple shape, therefore, will not be removed from the human gene pool.

This is the genetic bit that has worked to my disadvantage. With a BMI of 21.5, well within 'healthy', my waist to hip ratio, at 0.8, is only just within 'average risk', and when I had just slipped into overweight, my waist was two sizes bigger than my hips, so definitely not a healthy weight for me. So, although I can eat a lot without gaining, my healthy weight is lower than BMI would predict, so I know I still have to watch my weight. The genetic element is borne out by my mother being in the same boat waist to hip wise, with Drs telling her to lose weight even though her BMI is ok, and her father and his brothers all dying in their 50s from heart problems with tubby tummies.

As for calories in v. calories out, of course on a basic level, this works, but the machine in the middle, our body, does make a difference. I am constantly trying to figure out the role of NEAT in my high caloric needs, which is one reason I got a fitbit, as it counts all my paces, and it does show me needing more calories than any calculator predicts, but if I stick to it, I lose weight still. This may be because it can't tell the difference between sitting and standing, for example, but I do suspect there is a small element of inherited inefficiency too. If their's a famine, I won't be one of the survivors!

Finally, there are overweight cousins on both sides of my family. A cousin on the apple shaped, heart problems side, was excusing her weight gain by saying that we all get the family tummy eventually, which made me terribly sad, as while there is an element of truth, the size of that belly is of our own choosing. A cousin on the other side blamed the unhealthy food habits picked up as a child, which, whether true or not, has the positive element in the belief in the possibility of change and self-determination.

In conclusion (because I think I just wrote an essay!), I believe there is a genetic element to weight gain, body shape and weight loss, in part historically and evolutionarily determined, but within that we still have to make our own choices.

Florawanda

Well said, Oishii. My DH has always been slim, takes no deliberate exercise, and weighs in at between 103 - 106 lbs at 5'7". His bones show through!! He eats much more than me, and anyone looking at us both and photos of our parents would cite genetic predisposition. BUT he is often tense, fidgets a lot (one of the factors found in one of those studies in a calorie controlled house), smokes, and NEVER snacks!! Whereas I am very laid back, relaxed, don't smoke and am often waylaid by snacks.
So it is the combination of the skeletal shape we inherit, the habits laid down in childhood, and our temperament, which could also be attributed to childhood (and indeed foetal) environment. (Anxiety in a mother transmits itself to the foetus through increased adrenalin etc which then sets up a pattern of reaction once the foetus is born).

Troll

my fiance comes from an entire family of hummingbirds. they are all tall and super slim, even nieces and nephews. they eat insane calories and junk, limited activity, and at 6'1" cant break 155lbs. my whole family is....well...short and fat. thyroid problems run in mine, but im not going to let that be an excuse, i just have to work harder

ktied

I dont know about genetics, But I do know I learned horrible eating habits from the parents, thought late night binging was normal. Its ok not to eat all day and stuff my face with 3000 cals of junk at night in front of tv....

DawnieB1977

I definitely think genetics plays a part. My parents are overweight, and I was as a teenager, despite walking everywhere, playing badminton, swimming, and having a healthy diet. We always ate healthy food at home - i'd never even tried a take-away until I went to university.

I lost loads of weight at university by simply not eating (well, i did eat, but hardly anything), which obviously isn't healthy. As a result I think i totally messed up my metabolism.

Now I'm 34 and after having 2 children I have had to work my ar*e off to lose weight. I'm not slim still (a US size 8/10) but getting there! I watch what i eat, run round after 2 young kids, work out several times a week, walk everywhere, and I work part time as a teacher so I'm on my feet when I'm at work. I have friends who do zero exercise, eat what they like, and are slim with no effort at all.

My brother is just like me. He was very overweight, and lost it all when he was about 20 and has kept it off. But he's had to work hard for it. If he goes on holiday and doesn't work out like he usually does, he'll put on at least 7lbs over 2 weeks, just from relaxing what he eats a bit and not going to the gym. Some people don't count calories or go to the gym every day of their lives and remain slim!

I just accept that that's the way I am and I have to work hard to be slim. Hey, at least I will be healthier for it.

Lift_hard_eat_big

They do one of the 3
eat to much
exercise to little
Lie about wehat they eat

No Human can fight the law of energy in / energy out.
Even people claiming thyroid problems, It only accounts plus around 10 pounds the rest is over eating.

Actually...Heard of cortisol?

I could be wrong here but doesn't elevated cortisol potentially impact metabolism, getting back to the energy in/energy out equation. The energy out may change but the equation does not.

Well considering a lot of people don't even know that they have high cortisol levels, therefore a lower metabolism. Plus, if you do have something like high cortisol how do you find out what your metabolism actually is?

I find the effects of cortisol on insulin to be rather interesting.

Silverkittycat

What are you interested in exactly? Off topic, I know. Isn't cortisol also necessary for the cell cycle, repair and maintenance of the body and so on?
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050078

I find the effects of cortisol on insulin to be rather interesting

*** incorrect link, I'll find it and send it to you later...I don't save anything anymore.

Silverkittycat

I think the role of genetics in weight loss is very interesting, and I think it helps to think how certain genes are passed on and others aren't.

A gene will only be passed on if you have children. In some communities, past or present, an inability to store energy from a meagre supply of food would have meant certain death in a time of famine, without reaching the age to procreate, whereas in other communities where food was abundant, whether or not fat was easily stored would have made no difference and all variants would have survived to have children with the same gene. THIS is where human history becomes involved and ethnicity has a role to play.

It seems that my (Northern European) ancestors had it pretty easy, as my maintenance calories are waaaaay above those anyone would predict.

Body shape and fat distribution, however, does not normally contribute to whether you can have children, as the cardiovascular problems, experienced more by 'apples' than 'pears' , normally only manifests itself after childbearing age. The less healthy apple shape, therefore, will not be removed from the human gene pool.

This is the genetic bit that has worked to my disadvantage. With a BMI of 21.5, well within 'healthy', my waist to hip ratio, at 0.8, is only just within 'average risk', and when I had just slipped into overweight, my waist was two sizes bigger than my hips, so definitely not a healthy weight for me. So, although I can eat a lot without gaining, my healthy weight is lower than BMI would predict, so I know I still have to watch my weight. The genetic element is borne out by my mother being in the same boat waist to hip wise, with Drs telling her to lose weight even though her BMI is ok, and her father and his brothers all dying in their 50s from heart problems with tubby tummies.

As for calories in v. calories out, of course on a basic level, this works, but the machine in the middle, our body, does make a difference. I am constantly trying to figure out the role of NEAT in my high caloric needs, which is one reason I got a fitbit, as it counts all my paces, and it does show me needing more calories than any calculator predicts, but if I stick to it, I lose weight still. This may be because it can't tell the difference between sitting and standing, for example, but I do suspect there is a small element of inherited inefficiency too. If their's a famine, I won't be one of the survivors!

Finally, there are overweight cousins on both sides of my family. A cousin on the apple shaped, heart problems side, was excusing her weight gain by saying that we all get the family tummy eventually, which made me terribly sad, as while there is an element of truth, the size of that belly is of our own choosing. A cousin on the other side blamed the unhealthy food habits picked up as a child, which, whether true or not, has the positive element in the belief in the possibility of change and self-determination.

In conclusion (because I think I just wrote an essay!), I believe there is a genetic element to weight gain, body shape and weight loss, in part historically and evolutionarily determined, but within that we still have to make our own choices.

Excellent post. Nature and nurture.

*** adding that personally my opinion tends to follow Moalem's, "there is mounting evidence that where our ancestors came from, how they adapted to manage their environment, and where we live today all combine to have a significant impact on our health."

RainHoward

What are you interested in exactly? Off topic, I know. Isn't cortisol also necessary for the cell cycle, repair and maintenance of the body and so on?
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050078

I find the effects of cortisol on insulin to be rather interesting

I just did some fascinating research on cortisol and its effect on weight gain. I listed my sources at the bottom for additional reading.
http://rainhoward.blogspot.com/2012/09/cortisol.html

Lift_hard_eat_big

What are you interested in exactly? Off topic, I know. Isn't cortisol also necessary for the cell cycle, repair and maintenance of the body and so on?
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050078

I find the effects of cortisol on insulin to be rather interesting

I just did some fascinating research on cortisol and its effect on weight gain. I listed my sources at the bottom for additional reading.
http://rainhoward.blogspot.com/2012/09/cortisol.html

Thanks for the link, I'll be sure to read it.

Lift_hard_eat_big

What are you interested in exactly? Off topic, I know. Isn't cortisol also necessary for the cell cycle, repair and maintenance of the body and so on?
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050078

I find the effects of cortisol on insulin to be rather interesting

*** incorrect link, I'll find it and send it to you later...I don't save anything anymore.

I'm interested in cortisol's effect on insulin, metabolic syndrome, weight gain, adrenal fatigue, etc.

laurenz2501

med2017

i honestly think that the food we eat contributes to the weight, i can say based of experience. i lived in the states for 9 years.. and then i got into uni in europe and came here last year. me and my family eat extremely healthy, organic little take out and almost no fast food ever. but just wanted to note that coming to europe made me loose at least 5 pounds of water weight i just shrunk(i didn't loose muscle, it was just simply water weight) because of the diet here compared to the US.the portions are a lot different and smaller as well.. lot less salt, pretty much NO GM veggies/fruits and the same thing with meat. you go to a butcher, you get nice meat, you know where its from.

tomatoes the size of two fists or all apples that look the same is not natural. everything is packed with antibiotics, hormones, chemicals and on top of everything else genetically modified. is it normal for our bodies to eat these things? no not at all, especially all those extra hormones. many of you know what happens when you take birth control.. there is a slight water weight.. well can you expect the same thing with the food you eat.. yes. the same thing with take out dinners and pre packed pre made... none of its natural.. even if it says its all natural. the first thing i have a problem with is...why did natural farming die? instead huge corporations like monsanto are taking over the country with their bigger and better choices. its sick

we should eat natural food...
after we get rid of the stuffed chicken with antibiotics... then we can start to worry about obesity.

plus notice how whenever you go anywhere you drive your car.. never walk/bike to a place. public transportation sucks.

tigersword

You do know antibiotics have nothing to do with anything, right? That's just fear mongering. Antibiotics keep animals HEALTHY, I'd much rather eat an animal that's healthy than an animal that spent most of its life DISEASED.

Do you take medicine when you're sick? Same thing.

As for hormones, there are very few actual hormones used in livestock, cattle is the only one I can think of off hand. It's illegal to feed hormones to chickens and pigs in the United States. And growth hormone in cows is only used in dairy cows, not beef cows.

So you aren't eating any added hormones in meat.

med2017

look at other sources besides the FDA.
maybe to a certain amount but not packing them with unnecessary chemicals to make them bigger. it doesn't bother you that they feed antibiotics to animals seriously? what about the all natural? somehow people survived with having live stock.


do you know what happens to the cows who are fed the hormones?
you can see the video here:
http://youtu.be/6RNFFRGz1Qs
you still think this is okay? if the cows got through this? i mean the health effects..



Bovine growth hormone - banned in europe and canada




http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/12.07/11-dairy.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2012050/The-cocktail-20-chemicals-glass-milk.html
http://www.babycenter.com/0_bovine-growth-hormone-and-milk-what-you-need-to-know_64389.bc

sweetchildomine

Pebble321

I think food and activity are the major component, but we can't rule out the influence of genetics and personality.

My friend has three sons who all get to eat the same food, all have the same access to sports, activities, outside play etc. Two of the boys are quite lean - they are very active and aren't so interested in food. The other one has a different body shape - much broader (like his dad) and quite a solid build. He loves to eat, isn't so interested in sport though he does play several sports and is reasonably active.

In this instance they all live in the same environment but their body shape and personalities and interests are different - so it's a complex mix of reasons why he is closer to being overweight than the other two boys.