Genetic Shapes Of Us

"It's not my fault" that "I'm big boned," "it runs in my family." We remember hearing this from all of our larger than us friends. We didn't believe it then but the current news gives us cause for pause. Not just because we were so insensitively wrong but hopeful because its consistent with our there's got to be another way other than exercising. We admit we need to not be idle and that activity is good.

"‘Apple and pear shapes: partly down to genes - Understanding biology through finding genes is just a first step in a long journey towards treatment, but it is a vital one. As efforts to tackle obesity through changes in lifestyle or by different treatment options have proved extremely challenging, the potential to alter patterns of fat distribution may offer an alternative for future drug discovery,' says Dr Cecilia Lindgren of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at Oxford University, senior researcher on the waist-to-hip ratio study and who was involved in both papers." - University of Oxford (Media)

"Extremely challenging" is a nice way of saying raging failure in the effort of getting us smaller. It reminds us of the old Steve Martin joke about "getting small." In it instead of taking drugs to expand your mind or alter your consciousness you'd take a pill to become physically smaller. That would be the real fun! What would not be real fun is that the solution is looking toward a chemically traditional solution rather than what we would like.

"‘These two studies are the beginning of new insights into to biology of obesity and body shape, which in turn may lead to more targeted approaches to obesity prevention and potentially to the development of new drugs. But we should not forget that, while the genetic contribution to obesity is substantial, a large part of obesity susceptibility remains down to our lifestyle.’" - University of Oxford (Media)

What they've found isn't all there is and that the solution even if yours, and we're not saying that you're fat, gene issue isn't among the ones found there are more to be discovered. Its not all your fault but its not all your lot either. Large sibling can have smaller siblings and share the similar genetic strains. There is hope and you should never feel hopeless. Once a drug solution is found a natural alternative has to be just around the corner.

"The studies were carried out by the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) consortium, an international collaboration of more than 400 scientists from 280 research institutions with support from many funding agencies worldwide. The papers, Meta-analysis identifies 13" new loci associated with waist-hip ratio and reveals sexual dimorphism in the genetic basis of fat distribution and Association analyses of 249 796 individuals reveal 18 new loci associated with body mass index, are published today in Nature Genetics." - Medical Research Council (MRC)

Is it a medical fact? No not yet but it is a medical certainty. The hope it offers is to those who have struggled with their weight but have not given up regardless of their results. It's not all your fault and it is largely where you live, who were your parents, what you eat and what you do (employment). There are things we can do to reduce those risks and we should and teach our next generations as well.