francene--blog. Year 2013
  • Home
  • Blog

July 16th

7/16/2013

 
Picturewww.guardian.co.uk
In the seventies, I read a proposition that what we do in a past life affects our present one. For instance, if we lived a life of poverty and starvation, we'd try to make up for that in the next life. Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, new research, funded by the Rosetrees Trust and the Medical Research Council, shows that might be true. Some people are born with a condition that keeps them eating.

An international group of scientists solved the mystery of a genetic flaw which greatly increases the risk of obesity in one in six people. A version of an obesity gene, called FTO, had been linked to a bigger belly, but the reason why was uncertain.

The FTO mutations were probably life-saving at one point in human history when piling on the pounds in the summer would help people survive the winter.


Picturewww.bbc.co.uk
A study, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, showed it made fatty foods more tempting and altered levels of the hunger hormone, ghrelin. Although fat, people with this gene were still hungry. Obesity experts said drugs targeting the hormone might reduce weight gain.

There is a strong family link with obesity, and a person's genetic code is thought to play a major role in the risk of them becoming overweight. Also, the tendency to overeat in a society with too much food and no need for exercise is inherited.


Picturewww.health.com
Understanding how FTO affected the odds of becoming overweight would help patients. Exercise such as cycling, and eating protein meals lowers ghrelin levels. Anything that suppresses the hormone is more likely to be effective in FTO patients.

By discovering the factors which make people overweight, and also changes in the brain, scientists have made an important step forward. One giant leap for all those suffering snide remarks and the pain of rejection amongst their peers. And the knowledge that they are suffering from a physical condition like many others—diabetes, osteoporosis or lack of thyroxin.


Madeleine @ NZ Ecochick link
7/15/2013 07:56:14 pm

Very interesting. Mx

Gillie link
7/15/2013 08:02:50 pm

Interesting. I have been reflecting on our massive decluttering programme and realised that I don't just want to clear the house of rubbish I want to do the same to me. I hate being fat. I'm not obese, but I could do with losing at least a stone. The wierdest thing is that I had a slice of toast and marmite for breakfast over 2 hours ago and I am still feeling not just full, but overfull, regretting that breakfast. It was hardly massive, but iI could have had fresh fruit or yoghurt etc. I wonder if the decluttering really is expanding to me :)

Francene Stanley link
7/16/2013 03:14:58 am

Expanding is a very apt word, Guilie. I want to declutter my stomach, that's for sure.

Sophie Bowns link
7/15/2013 09:15:35 pm

A very interesting subject. I'm not fat, but I'd say that I was slightly over weight last year and the year before (luckily I managed to lose weight)

Amy link
7/15/2013 10:19:30 pm

Our lifestyle has changed dramatically in the past decade, too, Francene, due to how much we now use computers in work and our daily lives. That combined with the gene you mentioned makes for the cards stacked against us. What's needed is to get up and MOVE much more often! (I really want a piece of that cake.)

Francene Stanley link
7/16/2013 03:13:23 am

Yos. Our lifestyle is against us. You made me chuckle about the cake.

Alana link
7/16/2013 10:36:57 am

I know so many obese people and if people saw how they struggle with eating and their suffering, perhaps (maybe not) they would be more understanding - that obesity is much more complicated than a "moral weakness". It would be so encouraging to know there really was a physical cause - that it isn't just a "lack of willpower".

Francene Stanley link
7/16/2013 06:09:47 pm

Once things are understood, everyone can work towards understanding the condition.


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

    Picture

    Archives

    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Catastrophe
    Creativity
    Family
    Life Experiences
    Mother
    News
    Novel Writing
    Novel-writing
    Retirement
    World

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.