Thousands Of Genes Found To Influence Body Weight

A scintilla of sense against a background of pitch blackness.

The only question is whether the fat idiots out there will see it. (Despite the fact that the eye can see a single photon.)

"The findings suggest that over 6,000 genes - about 25 percent of the genome - help determine an individual's body weight.

'Reports describing the discovery of a new 'obesity gene' have become common in the scientific literature and also the popular press,' notes Monell behavioral geneticist Michael G. Tordoff, PhD, an author on the study.

'Our results suggest that each newly discovered gene is just one of the many thousands that influence body weight, so a quick fix to the obesity problem is unlikely.'"

Well, yes and no.

It is clear that to successfully and sustainably lose weight a distant horizon is usually needed.

BUT, all the tools necessary to lose weight successfully are available now.

And they will never really change since their control is by the immutable Laws of Thermodynamics and no gene, food, biologic agent, etc., can ever change that.

I am not talking about the deadly advice (IMHO) of the media, epitomized by Oprah and her experts, which will certainly be metastasized over the Oprah Winfrey Network, coming to you in the not-so-distant future.

I am talking about good weight loss advice.

So the fix is here and it is quick in that it can be implemented immediately.

Further, you have to be a raging moron to think that "healthy" food really exists AND that we know what it is for each of us.

With thousands of genes involved in this stuff, there is simply no way, currently, to know what will be "healthy" for someone else that might be "unhealthy" for you and vice versa.

"The findings also hold clinical relevance, according to lead author Danielle R. Reed, PhD, a Monell geneticist. 'Clinicians and other professionals concerned with the development of personalized medicine need to expand their ideas of genetics to recognize that many genes act together to determine disease susceptibility.'"

This correct realization highlights how complex the matter is.

Assuming 6000 genes, the number of combinations and their interactions become virtually infinite.

And if you are stupid enough to rely on drugs for rescue, remember that they are also a blunt instrument. If drugs were so good at targeting the problem, 1. they would work (which they do not) and 2. there would be no side effects (and there are many).

Ditto for surgery (though it is more effective than drugs).

Bottom line is, for you fat people out there, there is no rescue in sight for your irresponsible behavior and lack of self-control.

Stop killing yourselves and your children and make the simple changes that will succeed. See here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

And advocate for real help in getting fit.