Scientists find how 'obesity gene' makes people fat

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Just because temptation is one factor, it does not affect the reality of the obesity gene.

If you want to look back, look back to photos of 1930s farm families or urban street scenes.

Yes, bad food choices increase obesity.

And Yes, obesity genes increase obesity too. They make it harder to avoid temptation because the person is more hungry more often. However, too many people use the excuse of "bad genes" to avoid doing what they need to do to get to a healthy weight.

People (like me) who seem to not have the obesity gene(s) need to be a little more understanding of those who are obese, though ultimately not buying into the excuse-making. In the final analysis, excess food in means excess pounds on. At the same time, there are ranges of challenges that people face when handling weight. For some people saying no to excess food is much harder than for other people.

But ultimately, everyone can say no to excess food, especially if they have health care that includes preventative assistance. Investment in preventative medicine is the best medical investment a person can make and a state or country can make.

The obesity gene(s) is real and needs to be taken into consideration as a factor, but it is not the only factor.