It’s pretty much useless to try and be thin if you don’t have the (much coveted, soon to be cloned at a store near you) “thin gene.” Based on a study of over 3,000 pairs of female twins — the gold standard for both researchers and teenage boys — scientists have concluded that over 50% of womens’ variances in weight can be predicted just by looking at their genes. The remaining percentage can be predicted by looking at their jeans. (Sorry, that one just wrote itself. It’s a gift and a curse.)
It’s not all doom and gloom though. Professor Livshits (I know, I giggled too), lead researcher of the study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2007, says, “The bad news is that many of our physical features, including our weight, are dependent on our genes. The good news is that women still have an opportunity to go against their genetic constitution and do something about it.”
But lest that ray of hope be too cheerful, he adds, “It’s important to not have high expectations. Women need to know that what they can do about their body weight — especially when they age — is relatively little, and they will do it only with much difficulty.”
The proposed solution, of course, is to come up with a “thin gene” test to see who won the genetic lottery and who will be suing their parents in the near future for pre-gestational negligence. Officially the test will be used to let women know what kind of battle they’ll be up against so they can decide if fighting themselves over every bite for the rest of their unnatural lives is worth it. (Strangely, the test is proposed just for women — apparently men don’t care if they are fat.) Unofficially, the test will be used to narrow down future supreme court justices, screen kiddies for the really good preschools, and select mail-order brides.
All snarking aside, if there really was a thin gene test would you take it? And would it finally release fat people from the lazy-no-willpower-fat-is-contagious stereotype that our society is so fond of — or would it only make it easier to pick them out for vilification? What if a skinny person took it and discovered they have the thin gene- would it take away their sense of moral superiority? What if a fat person took it and discovered they have the thin gene – would they lose weight with this knowledge?
One thing I do know — marketers all over the country are having some very sweet dreams tonight.
Is it just me or did Dr. Dipshit say that women CAN do something about their lack of genetic fortune, and then say that they can do very LITTLE about it? Am I misunderstanding?
yes, I'd want to know. It would make me feel better to know that the struggle I experience is based on some sort of science. That's just me!
Interesting. But I don't like these type of studies as they focus too much on the genes and not the environment they interact with.
I don't know how I feel about this. On the one hand, it might help people to accept their body shape if they had the knowledge that it was genetic (which is already true to an extent, but this study might just help).
However, it might also give people an excuse to give up- and exercise isn't only about losing weight, it has a lot of other benefits, even if it's just maintaing muscle as you age and improving your mental health state. And a balanced diet also helps to stave off all those metabolic problems (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.), so even if you're overweight because of a gene, avoiding ridiculous amounts of bad cholesterol still is good for your health.
I recognize that health isn't the ONLY reason that I exercise and try to eat well- it's mainly so I can get through law school without having a nervous breakdown, but I wish I did put more emphasis on the bodily health part, as opposed to just trying to relieve stress.
Interesting study though.
I surely don't have the thin gene. I have not been adopted so I know what my ancestors look(ed) like.
I'm happy with my figure, most genetic features. I know many people that are too thin and desesperately trying to get a little flesh on the bones. So that's not all white, all black.
I don't need a gene test to tell me I have inherited my great grandmas ability to store fat in my thighs very easily. I can either accept my fate or challenge it by trying to eat right and working out. My genes will never let me be a supermodel but they can't prevent me from being the healthiest for my body type.
I'd probably give in and want to know. I would hope it would put to rest the fat=lazy belief we have. MANY fat folks eat less than their thin counterparts, and move more. IMHO, it's yo-yo dieting that causes obesity, not overindulgence.
Personally, it wouldn't change much for the better. I'm a size 2, so I fall into the "thin" category. If I found out that I don't have the thin gene. Then they did some more testing and find out that I've got the "fat" gene(s) (I thought they discovered this). Instead of assuming that I'd managed to change my gene expression, the test would probably spark a lot of disordered behavoir.
I'd also imagine the opposite scenario (an overweight woman being told she's got the thing genes and no fat gene), would mke her feel lazy/undisciplined, etc.
So in my opinion, the test would be neutral to the thin people who have the thin gene and overweight people who don't.
All of this just gives people excuses to eat what they want and not work out. The focus should be on eating better and exercise regardless of size, genes, etc. But, this is a rant for a different place. I think finding stuff like this only really benifits the future genetic designing of your babies. Wow…I think I need to go back to bed. Or drink some coffee and not be so grumpy! lol
(p.s., I include myself in the lazy category…that's why it's so frustrating when people tell us it's not our fault. The genes didn't make me eat 2 pieces of cheesecake last night!)
I doubt I would take that at this point in my life. I already know I have a body type that is muscular when lifting weights, gymnastic in some ways & not a "thin" type. Not saying fat, but for a short person, I am never going to be that tiny & thin one due to my body shape, bone structure & muscular make-up.
I have always had to work hard to keep the weight off & even more so with age.
I would hate to see this make heavy people give up because I know from experience if you work at it & eat pretty good, you can stay fit even as you age.. it is just hard work & people hate to hear that!
I think I would like to know. It's frustrating to keep trying to lose weight and not get anywhere; it's hard to just be content as I am. It would be nice to know what I'm up against, and whether I should just learn to accept my weight.
Flip side, I'd hate to see it become an excuse for unhealthy behavior.
Huh. What about all those articles this week about having skinny thighs is a sign that the person is unhealthy? I want the healthy genes!
I wouldn't want to know…I prefer to think I can do what I can and be happy with knowing I'm living healthy. I think knowing I had the thin or not would cause me to either slack off or give op in frustration…neither would be good.
I think if I tried and tried and tried to lose weight and couldn't I'd feel better if I knew it was genetic, but it still wouldn't change that I should just look after myself and try hard to be healthy…
It isn't like a test for a disease or condition…no, I don't think I'd want to know.
I'm pretty sure I have the thin gene. My parents each had one fat parent and one thin parent. They are fat, but have thin siblings. My brother is fat and I have always been thin.
That being said, I can let myself go just like anyone else (and have). I still look thinner than your average American when I'm at my heaviest, and still have a normal BMI, but I've definitely been in a situation where I needed to lose 10 lbs to look good and be healthy. I may be thin, but if I don't work out, I lose my muscle tone in a heartbeat and look downright flabby. A muffin top is a muffin top regardless of your waist size.
So my point is that even if one isn't destined to be obese, it is still important to eat right and exercise if you want to feel and look your best.
As far as my family goes- I just want them to exercise and eat right so they will be around for a long time. I don't care what they weight, but I worry about my parents b/c they have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 🙁
I do have the thin gene! As well as keeping you thin, it causes you to exercise and eat a healthy diet.
I certainly agree that genetics determine your body size/shape to a certain extent, but only at the extremes. Maybe the person with the fat gene will never be slim by societies standards, but he or she can become slim for them.
I'm pretty lean and I don't a lot of fat around my middle, but I don't really have a waist. I just don't. I'm very short-waisted long legs. I could lose weight around my middle, but I'll never have that coveted hour glass figure. It's just the way I am.
Personally, I don't care whether my genes are thin or fat. I know who I am, what my weaknesses are in terms of maintaining my health so whether I have to fat gene or not, I will still have to deal with those issues. I also know that when I pay attention to what I eat and exercise regularly, it DOES make me slimmer, fitter and happier and when I neglect myself in those areas, I gain weight and feel like crap.
Also, I would be very reluctant to trust the idea that having the fat gene would mean that no matter what I do, I can never do anything to control and manage my weight. Unlike eye color, skin color, height, etc. body fat IS something that can theoretically change (increase or decrease) so even if a propensity towards being heavy does exist, there is still, technically, the possibility that the amount of fat cells in one's body can decrease (or increase).
Plus, the fact that it only mentions this in regard to women really turns me off — this study seems to be less about science and helping people's health than about how some women will never be "attractive" no matter what they do. It doesn't explicitly say that, but I think it's implicit.
Dr. Dipshit. Tee hee.
I know I don't have the skinny gene. Neither of my parents are naturally thin and it takes them being conscious to keep their figures (or not). Is this why I'm banging my head up against 150 lbs trying to get lower? Perhaps – but I'm pretty sure with enough elbow grease I can get where I want to go. I'd love to take the test to see if it explains why I'm having trouble (but it would motivate me to try harder, not give me an excuse). At least I hope…
Yeah, I'd wanna know! Simply for curiosity sake, the same reason I have a PBS documentary science degree. However, I can say with assurance there is zero chance I would ever take the test as the only gene testing I will do is covered by insurance. Such as the, "Am I going to die of cancer?" gene for which my PPO picked up the tab. Good news, THAT gene didn't show up.
So because my mom was fat, my dad was overweight, and my sister is hefty, I am not allowed to be thin? What about people who are genetically blessed but bluntly eat too much? Will their kids erroneously assume they have a "fat" gene as well? No denying it's harder for some people than others (it's hard for me too), but it smacks of yet another way to defer responsibility for one's own actions.
I'm kind of distracted by the giraffe. That poor thing will be some lions' meal in no time.
My curiosity would NEED to be satisfied. I'd totally want to know. Even if the studies are kinda skewed and all.
I've got it, I'm sure (or is it that I've exercised my entire life?) Even with that knowledge, I haven't lost my moral authority:-)
As a marketer this is a gold mine, especially for privatized health care in the States. Do you know how much women would pay for this information? I don't, but I bet it's a lot.
Chuck Klosterman wrote an essay question to that effect which asked:
"If I could make you $1000 more attractive for $1000, but it wouldn't be an easily quantifiable way, would you do it? What if you could pay to be as incrementally more attractive as you wanted but you could only do it once? How much would you pay me then?"
I'm paraphrasing, but you get the just of it.
I wouldn't want to know myself, but I personally do know that having a possible medical explanation for struggling to lose weight (and gaining it in the first place) can be really motivating, and also a really convenient excuse to slack off simultaneously.
yes, i would.
and then i would weep for not having that stupid gene.
so it wouldn't really help [me] in the long run… 🙁