Genetic Defect Linked to Weight Gain

Note from Connie: Researchers at the acclaimed Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia
may have discovered a genetic defect that impairs the liver’s ability to burn fat.

Not only that, but they may have uncovered the reason why some people become fat while others stay thin. What’s more, their findings may pave the way for a genetic test that would identify those most at risk for becoming overweight. Karen James gives you the scoop on this study, which we learned from HealthDay News.

A new study by researchers at the  and led by associate director and senior author Mark Friedman Ph.D. compared rats genetically inclined toward obesity with those that were not.

Dr. Friedman’s team found that when both groups ate low-fat diets, the rats
all weighed the same. However, when both sets of rats were fed a
high-fat diet, those that were obesity-prone rats gained 36 percent
more weight than the others

The study, which appeared in the journal Metabolism, swayed
the researchers away from the conventional wisdom that high-calorie and
high-carbohydrate diets cause weight gain to posit that some people may
experience increased
hunger and overeat because their ability to convert fat to energy is
impaired at the cellular level.

Karen James for the SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

4 thoughts on “Genetic Defect Linked to Weight Gain”

  1. Very nice blog. The information given is very useful to those who are overweight. The findings are very interesting. I have browsed a site related to this topic.

  2. Weight Gain may be caused by genetics

    Can genetics affect how you gain and lose weight? Connie Bennett of Sugar Shock Blog looks at a study by the Monell Chemical Senses Institute that discovered a genetic defect in the liver may impair the body’s ability to burn

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