Trying to avoid food but still being obese, where's the mistake?

There is a clear genetic factor that triggers obesity - Photo: News-Medical

The study, published in the journal Med, used data from the UK Biobank, a large biomedical database and research source that tracks people over long periods to learn about obesity.

Genetics contributes to obesity.

The study's lead author, Dr. Mattia Frontini, a member of the British Heart Foundation and associate professor of cell biology at the University of Exeter (UK), said in an email: "The causes of obesity are complex and in most cases a combination of many factors. However, in this study, we have found a clear genetic factor that triggers obesity."

Researchers compared data from people with two faulty copies of a specific gene (SMIM1) and those without the two faulty copies. According to the study, women with the gene mutation gained an additional 4.6 kg in weight, and men with the variant gained an additional 2.4 kg.

Frontini explained that faulty copies of the SMIM1 gene reduce thyroid function and decrease energy expenditure, "meaning that with the same amount of food, less energy is used and this excess energy is stored as fat."

According to Dr. Philipp Scherer, director of the Touchstone Diabetes Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the correlation is not only significant, but this study also identifies a specific gene mutation. This doesn't always happen in studies. Dr. Scherer was not involved in the study.

Scherer said: "This is an exciting study because it puts a new gene on the map. It's a real gene, not just a gene with a mutation somewhere that we don't understand. We're looking at a gene that we can study further."

This genetic discovery is "quite rare".

Frontini noted that this particular genetic finding does not apply to a large number of people with obesity. Only about 1 in 5,000 people have this genetic makeup.

"That's quite rare, but when you multiply that by a population of 10 million, 15 million, there are a fair number of people out there carrying this mutation, and they may not be fully aware that there's a genetic component that explains why they struggle with obesity," Scherer said.

Thyroid dysfunction is common, affecting nearly 2% of the population in the UK, according to Frontini. And thyroid dysfunction is frequently treated with a relatively inexpensive medication.

The next step in the research is to find out if people with the SMIM1 mutation are eligible for thyroid medication, he added.

Frontini said: "If they qualify, we plan to conduct a randomized clinical trial to determine if they would benefit from the treatment. Hopefully they will, and we can improve their quality of life using a safe, inexpensive treatment."

The more you abstain, the more you crave.

Weight isn't just a matter of willpower or laziness. According to the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, your body size and shape are determined by many factors.

You can control some factors, and some you can't. Among these factors are lifestyle habits, sleep patterns, medications, health problems, where you live and work, and genetics, according to the research institute.

Brooke Alpert, a registered dietitian and author of the book " Diet Detox: Why Your Diet Is Making You Fat and What to Do About It ," says that strict, restrictive diets are not the answer.

Trying to avoid food excessively can actually lead to increased cravings, followed by guilt for having eaten, resulting in a cyclical pattern of self-restraint and binge eating.

Emily Feig, a postdoctoral researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, emphasizes that if you want to change your lifestyle, it's best to try a gradual, sustainable approach while maintaining a healthy relationship with food.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tim-cach-xa-lanh-thuc-an-ma-van-beo-phi-sai-o-dau-20240622163507421.htm