Genetics+Has+a+Key+Role+in+Obesity

Science Daily October 17, 2007

New evidence shows that genetics plays an important and direct role in obesity. Studies were conducted on Pima Indians, a group that has an extremely large obese population. It has been believed that their obesity has been linked to a thrifty metabolism for a long time, but these studies took it a step farther. They showed that the metabolism, and thus the obesity, was directly linked to genetics. A type of variation in the DNA of mitochondria, called an SNP, was proved in the Pima Indians to improve metabolic efficiency. The two of the three known SNPs were shown to have this effect. There may have been an evolutionary advantage to having a very efficient metabolism. The reason is simple: it helped them survive on a sparse desert diet. However, in today’s high calorie diets, their crazy metabolism is unfavorable and leads to obesity. While the Pima Indians are an extreme case, the studies are sure to have an impact on the entire human race. As most humans had very restricted diets even just a few thousand years ago, many individuals may have these SNPs that influence metabolism. This may be another reason that obesity is such an epidemic in the 21st century.

C. Aldred March 19, 2010