Is Genetics and Heredity Obstructing Your Weight Loss?

Obesity is generally referred to as a disease in which an excessive amount of body fat is accumulated inside the person's body. Our present lifestyle and eating habits are determinants that contribute largely to a higher rate of obesity. Also, the environmental conditions are responsible for increased calorie intake and decrease physical activities leading to obesity issues in every generation of people. Genetics and hereditary traits contribute to 40-70% of obesity disorder and that too in the early childhood stage mostly.  

Statistics Speak 

More than 50 genes in the human body have been discovered to be responsible and associated with obesity. In the early childhood genetic defects are associated with an extremely high level of hunger leading to obesity. Such cases require a medical specialist for a screening of several deficiencies in the body.

In the adolescence and adult age, multiple genes are responsible for excessive weight gain. These genes along with the fat mass are found in up to 43% of the population. And even if this population challenges their calorie intake, the issue of obesity remains. 

Genetics Led To Obesity Conditions 

Due to hereditary genes, several conditions arise such as:

- Reduced control overeating

- Higher tendency to store body fat

- Higher calorie intake via fast food consumption

- Reduce satiety 

- Higher hunger levels

- Repeated eating habits

Are Genetics Responsible For Obesity Always?

Although in early childhood obesity can be linked largely to genetic defects. Testing for a genetic form of obesity in adults has very limited correlation because the testing might not prove very helpful. The family history of a person can help understand the risk of obesity and obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and heart diseases.

But if you think only your genes predispose you to obesity, you are probably wrong. Genes can increase appetite and reduce metabolism rate. 

Following medical treatment and appropriate fitness regime, you can prevent and treat obesity in adulthood. Try to incorporate effective nutrition in your daily diet, club physical activities and have the correct behavioral approach in your daily routine. These factors together can help prevent even the toughest obesity in genetics and hereditary conditions.

Seek Medical Treatment 

If the struggle continues with excessive weight gain even after the correct lifestyle (coupled with exercising and right eating habits), it is better to consult an obesity medicine specialist. H/she specializes in the job of developing a comprehensive medical obesity treatment plan that can help you to maintain the weight for a longer period. 

DNA Dairies 

Some DNA studies have found that there are about 50 gene variants that can be related to the propensity to gain weight. Each of these genes has a moderate influence on body mass. But that doesn't mean dieting and exercise are futile methods to fight obesity and weight increase. 

Researchers have found that the simple fundamentals of eating less and move-more strategy can help overcome the known genetic defects responsible for excess weight. This strategy gives appropriate result depending upon each person's metabolism rate, as some people have to move a lot and eat pretty less to see the desired results.

Dealing with FTO

FTO (Fat mass and obesity-associated protein also known as alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase) is the most significant obesity-related gene that has been identified recently. Although the person with two copies of FTO tends to gain weight rapidly, there are people without this gene who weigh around 300 pounds.

According to the studies conducted this gene undoubtedly hinders weight loss but it has a mild effect when the determination to lose weight is strong enough. 

Hormonal Imbalance 

"Spreading calorie intake throughout the day evenly helps in keeping the furnace burning all day long in the body,” according to Dr. Sharma, scientific director of the Canadian Obesity Network. 

Hormones also play a crucial role in mental motivation toward eating or not eating. For some people, food is as addictive as drugs. 

There is leptin which is an appetite suppressant. 

Then, Ghrelin is the stomach hunger hormone and is responsible for sparking the brain to indulge in eating even on viewing food images. According to the studies, ghrelin level rises with the stress which leads to overeating via creating a craving for food.