I weight 23.6 st. I'm 38, 5'6" & I promise you I eat in moderation, I exercise well; swim min of 3 times a wk min of 40 lengths a time, which takes me approx 30 mins, play badminton, tennis & walk but DO NOT LOSE WEIGHT. Explain that! i've tried all types of weight lose programs & lose very little.

Karen, London, England

Since puberty I have gained weight, I’ve always been active, each year I would put on at least a stone, couldn’t explain it. Was told I eat too much, but no more than my siblings who were less active. Calorie control, low fat, weight watchers etc I’ve tried and will lose about a stone then plateau.

Karen, London, England

Tom Jones from Seattle wrote:
I' hear a few folks sayin' that if folks just got off their butts real
regular-like, nobody would be fat, yadda yadda yadda.'
And then when on to write:
' If Gramma had wheels, she'd be a trolley car - I have heard more than enough of the pessimistic crowd, it's time for them to sit down and shut up. They seem to offer nothing useful anyway. '

1. There's nothing 'pessimistic' about logic. More calories than the body needs - gain weight. Less calories than the body needs - lose weight. Balance of calories to energy used - weight maintained.
2. You may not like hearing the truth but it is quite simple. Take in less calories than you need, then see what happens. Start slowly by walking a few steps, eat a bit less, take each day it comes then see where you are.
3. If anything, the posts from those saying to eat less and move around are optimistic. You should listen and stop setting 'science' up as this great well of knowledge.

Kim, London, UK

Don, ALTON , NH, USA: You asked for an explanation to the statement:
'One in four British adults is classified as obese, and half of men and a third of women are overweight. '

Obese is classified as grossly overweight and overweight is simply weighing more than what is healthy in proportion to height and weight and muscle to fat content.
Read it like this: '25% of British adults is classified as grossly overweight and 50% of men and 33% of women are overweight. 25% of the whole and then the break-down into sexes. They could have written better but it does make sense in a sloppy way.

Kim, London, UK

1. Claudia - Your statement is illogical. 'Most thin people smoke'.. Europeans are thinner than Americans because they eat about half to 2/3 the amount of the typical obese American. The Americans who take in less food are usually the same size as those Europeans - regardless of smoking or not smoking.
To Darla from Kenner: I looked at your diet and I suggest.

Instead of: 2 crispy cream donuts ( 680 calories) What?!
Try: 2 slices whole grain toast with margerine (1 pat)
Instead of: 10 am, a small baked potatoe/butter ,boiled cabbage and 1/8 cup of pasta, (300)
Try: 1 apple or banana and a pot of plain yoghurt
Instead of: lunch, 1 cup of fetticine,and a glass of 2%milk,(760)
Try: 150gr pasta measured with a tomato sauce and green veggies. Herbal tea or water.
Instead of: supper, a Hamburger,french fries,dr.pepper, and a slice of peanut butter pie (1400) cals
Try: Grilled chicken, brown rice and steamed veggies
Your diet is poor and full of empty calories.

Kim, London, UK

i think that it is partly the gene, but i have seen acounts of this on the tv and on the internet and i believe that it is also to do with over eating and eating the wrong thngs without doing any exercise. i do not have a wait problem and i believe that the people with the weight p[roblem should put an effort into losing weight. i have seen some peolple that just stay in bed all day eating themselves to death.

josh davies, maidstone, kent, england

the fat gene, so what, we already knew people had a fat gene in their bodies.
fat is distributed according to your genetics and the amount you HAVE is according to your metabolism.
i have been eating like a pig all my life, 3-4k calories a day, but i cannot gain weight.
this suggests i have a very active thyroid and a high metabolism.
however i have fat around my back, so this is my genetics which determine where i store it.
but other people who have a slower metabolism, or average one need to exercise and watch what they eat to keep the weight down.
theres nothing you can do , this is life.
however if you want to make your thyroid really active , read about thyroid enhancers such as cytomel (t3), you can buy this online, will increase your metabolism by 500-1500 calories a day.
but be carefull with this drug.
take it for 4 weeks max, starting from 20mcg a day and going up to a maximum of 60mcg per day.
then taper back down.
i think doctors should prescribe this to obese ppl

yaz, london, london

I weigh 279 lbs and I am 5'7''...I am a woman ...I have to say that I wish I wasnt so fat. I am also pregnant now.I am a little over half done with my pregnancy. I will show you what I ate today.
--Breakfast:I ate 2 crispy cream donuts ( 680 calories)
-- 10 am I ate a small baked potatoe/butter ,boiled cabbage and 1/8 cup of pasta, (300)
--lunch I ate 1 cup of fetticine,and a glass of 2%milk,(760)
-- supper I ate a Hamburger,french fries,dr.pepper, and a slice of peanut butter pie (1400) calories
I ate app.3100 calories today
I have to eat 3250 to keep from loosing weight
I usually never eat this much in a day.More like 2.500.
today it was a lot because we ate out ....at any rate I do not eat whole cakes -never have...or whole packages of anything
I have a family of 7 ...so I cant be sedentry...
I do not steal food,eat out of trash cans,
or think about eating constantly. All of these things I have been accused of..because I am so overweight.

Darla, kenner, la

I'm 320 pounds and I am really tired of hearing that all fat people are fat because they overeat. I eat less than anyone I know.

I am willing to have my lifestyle and diet open to public scrutiny. I do not eat anything containing potatoes, rice, caffeine, flour or sugar, so no pizza, no McDonalds, no alcohol etc. I go to water aeorbics 3 x weekly and I have stayed the same weight for many years.

Anonymous, Sussex, UK

for a side note, why are you guys bashing people with more pounds then you. if i saw you on the street yelling at fat people id probly come there say something and more likely start a fight just to defend the person. yet here im hearing bashing like none other. these findings are a start, nothing big. but perhaps these studies will lead in finding chemicals that infact do cause abnormal affects carbohydrates isnt the only thing. there are chemicals in food that do react with certain people to produce more fatty tissue(and cancer). some of these posters are correct. there should be more restrictions on the food industry

and funding for a healthy lifestyle isnt easy. junk food is cheaper. and some people cant afford to buy things that isnt romin, or a dollar over pizza

this is also comming from a thin-skinny guy who burns through energy like a nuclear bomb. i have to eat a lot or else i will become extremely thin anorexic looking. im 5,9 120lb iv been low as 100lb which is unhealthy

Ken, sterling heights, USA Michigan

So where was this fat gene about 30 years ago? And why now is the obesity epidemic getting worse? 2 main reasons. 1. The stupid amount of junk food outlets McDs etc 2. Sedentary lifestyle. I am a qualified gym instructor so i see a lot of overweight people and these are the reasons for them being in that state. If you people have seen the tv programmes like biggest loser and celebrity fit club, this is the right approach a healthy balanced diet and a vigorous mixed exercise routine (i.e circuit training or a mixture of cardiovascular exercise and weights) and you can and will lose weight but some people must realise it does not happen overnight. Motivation is a key factor and personal trainers really do help. Dont be another statistic put down the big mac and get out there.

Matt, Newport, UK

All of you who oppose-
Have you not seen a bigger person and then met their family and saw that the whole family is around the same size? Both of my parents have a tough time staying thin and you look at their parents and their brothers and sisters and so do they .....now, my brother, 3 sisters and myself all have that same body type. The type where we smell delicious food and start gaining before it goes in our mouth. It's in the genes. The "Family Genes".
Luckily, the man I happened to Marry has the skinny Gene's in his family and now my children have a 50/50 chance of not haveing to work at it as hard as I have my whole life.
Don't get me wrong excersise is needed for everyone for heart health, but you catch my drift..

JJR, Buffalo,

....cause of obesity, the bible even states this.

That's the stupidest comment yet. The bible is nothing but myths and legends

Frans, Atlanta, GA USA

.... the bible even states this...

That's the dumbest thing I've heard yet! Geez! The bible is nothing but myths and legends.

Frans, Atlanta, GA USA

Your comment, "...giving the excuse that they have a genetic issue" is typical of what thin people think of fat people, & it's an obtuse comment! Most fat people know full well that exercise & a healthy diet are necessary for good health. I've always had to work harder than anyone I know to not gain weight. To maintain health, I walk 15 miles a week and watch every morsel I put in my mouth & I'm still not thin. I'm a size 12-14 [American.] I have a genetic predisposition to overweight and it's like a disease that must be monitored all the time. It's not fair. It's not like tobacco, alcohol or cocaine addiction, because one has to eat! It's not fair to work as hard as I do to stay healthy while the skinnies eat what they want. You don't know what you're talking about. I bet you're stick-thin. Every thin person thinks with disdain that they know exactly what fat people need to do. You don't know anything. Fat people don't use excuses to over-eat! Get off your sanctimonious "high-horse."

Frans, Atlanta, GA USA

This study merely proves that some people do have a more difficult time of losing weight, but the net difference is only 7 pounds. Therefore, diet and exercise will work, maybe a bit more slowly.

However, eating well and exercising are still the only way to feel better, look better and age more healthily. Regardless of your size and/or the end result of a diet/exercise plan, you still improve your overall health and give your body the tools it needs to function in an optimal state.

DO NOT let this information be an excuse for giving up or not trying at all. A healthier lifestyle is one of the few factors in your life that you can control and makes a great impact on your health as you age.

Josie, Jackson,

Well, as stated in the article, this piece of news or findings came as no surprise to anyone. We all know that some people are different from other genetically. No matter how hard you try, you just couldnt' squeeze into a size6-8 jeans while other, with a eating diary read like a McDonald's ingredient lists stay slim. What's is it going to lead to? Is it the same eat healthy, exercise cliche'???

Lynh, London, UK

As with any scentific discovery, I believe it important that people understand what this find really means before attempting to apply it to themselves, or others. There is a danger with such news that many over-eaters will further damage themselves, giving the excuse that they have a genetic issue. Not only do a minority of people have the most significant variety of this gene, but having it does not mean that one is destined to be obese, but only that more effort is necessary to keep slim.

Abioye Oyetunji, London, UK

Our genes haven't changed in 50 years, yet there were few fat people around there when the diet was better. And the gene only contributes 7 pounds or so, hardly an "excuse" for obesity for the terrible diets some people have. Gene or no gene, 99% of extremely fat people only have their own diet and lack of exercise to blame.

And the majority of us have one of the genes (some have two, some have none) so the AVERAGE is to have one gene - even less of an excuse for severly overweight people.

But what has the bible got to do with this (according to one poster) - God help America (sic) if idiots use the bible as reference for fatness!

Andrew, Cambridge,

As said by Professor McCarthy “This is not a gene for obesity, it is a gene that contributes to risk,”. So there can be and most probably are other genes that play a role in obesity. Moreover these genes were always there but there were less obese people. So finally its the life style that makes people obese (except in case of rare obesity disorders).

Dana, dayton, USA

although i believe there are people who are naturally fat or naturally thin, and some find it harder to lose weight, i find it amusing that most of these comments are made by americans... the fattest nation on earth.............

Ben, Bridport, UK

obviously many people struggle with their weight, and if a healthy lifestyle isn't keeping that in check and putting their emotional and physical health in danger, this is basically a good thing. However, despite the discovery of the 'fat gene', I don't believe medicine is the only answer for most of these people. Yet seeing as the proportion of obese people on the planet equals the number of those starving and malnutritioned(who funnily enough doon't seem to possess this gene), how about we take all the money spent on creating drugs for and feeding the former and use it to feed and clothe the latter? Just an idea.

Bianca, Bristol, England

The fat people may be suffering a lot because of their condition. It is not easy for them.

Mary, Town,

Huh... this explains why even after I ate a giant tray of chocolate, I only gained about 5 pounds. Then I just stopped eating for a few days and it was all gone. Even though my friend is kinda chubby, but tries his hardest not to be. That explains alot, but this may want people to take advantage of it. Just because they don't have the gene doesn't mean they can never grow fat. They shouldn't just eat whatever tehy want. So in other words, people (like me) who don't have fat problems should not take advantage of this.

Jay (12), Houston, USA

Okay, so over-fat or over-thin people can now rationalise their condition. Before long we can expect smokers, bullies, drinkers, ascetics, control-freaks, cheats and ......yes, martyrs will all have access to the same comfort. Life will be so much simpler. Will it?

wokrightinn, Rudkøbing, Denmark

Now if they can just find the fat that makes my genes look skinny

spastic jack, des moines, Iowa

Boy, no one on here is very forgiving of overweight people. I think it's nice to have scientific evidence why one person can eat crap (I've known many people like this), do almost no exercise, and stay extremely thin, while another can have a moderately healthy lifestyle and still be considered "overweight" by the unforgiving public.

Yes, not all overweight people are this way, but if you're talking a difference of 7 pounds, that can make a huge difference in someone's physical appearance. If you're 5 feet tall, 7 pounds could be the difference between one size and the next. And 7 pounds was the average amount of weight. Others could have a higher weight difference.

Not all 'overweight' people are that way because of poor eating habits and overindulging.

Kristin Gillenwater, Roanoke, VA

Here's all you need to think about: We all know people who seem to be able to eat whatever they want and stay thin, don't we? Well if there are people who are "naturally" thin, WHY, oh WHY is it so OUTRAGEOUS to think that there are people who are "NATURALLY FAT"? Clearly there are people who need to drive by the drive-thru, but THINK ABOUT IT.

Annie, Boston, MA, USA

There are ignoramuses out there who do not understand that some people put on weight far more easier than others. They are always insensitive and say silly things like, "All you have to do is stop eating."

Those ignorant clowns are the ones who will tell you that it is all about dieting. Statements like that are totally false and are hurtful to people who have weight problems.

Some people can eat like horses and not gain weight. Others can be on a life time diet and gain weight easily. The article above shows that, and it is time for people to be more understanding.

Joshua, San Diego, Ca

As someone who has battled a weight problem for the majority of my life, I'm glad to see they have identified something like this. While several of you think the obese are just lazy and need to exercise more/eat less, it just proves you don't know what you're talking about. Yes, there are some obese people that applies to, but there IS a percentage with medical problems making it hard to impossible to lose weight AND keep it off. Yes, I've lost it before, but it order to keep it off, I was eating less than 500 calories a day PLUS exercising (putting my heart at risk of starving into a heart attack). I was told my thyroid was damaged in childhood and because it wasn't diagnosed until my 30s, my mind had "reset" itself to believe my obese weight is the ideal weight for me. If I had something that would help me maintain weight loss and be able to eat normally, I would jump at the chance to use it. Don't assume obese people are just lazy!

Susan, Atlanta, GA/USA

I have fought being overweight -- for the most part successfully -- all my life. My older daughter who is now ten is built the same way and we are both like my paternal grandmother (born 1892) whom I remember from when she was a very old, very overweight lady but still very vibrant. Pictures from her childhood show a chubby little girl who lived on a farm in Iowa -- a lifestyle which certainly lent itself to physical activity, but she was still overweight!

To keep the weight off I continually remind myself the hunger I feel is NOT an emergency. I'm not sure whether knowing we carry both copies of this gene or not would be helpful. I already know my life would be much easier if Krispy Kreme donuts, for example, had never been invented. But we all have our crosses to bear, and mine could be a lot worse.

If you are fighting obesity I would definitely recommend some time on the analyst's couch. Behavior modification is the key.

Briana, Boise, Idaho

I'll add to my previous post--I don't eat fast food, don't take in sugar other than what's in fresh fruit, avoid processed food in general, and keep my activity level up--but I'm nowhere near skinny, unfortunately.
My skinny sister can (and does) eat whatever junk she likes to, and stays that way. So where am I going wrong? I hope that now they have found some genetic correlation they will look harder for other thing sthat go along with it--too late for me but maybe my grandchildren to come will benefit!

ACN, Vienna VA,

Wonderful discovery, but I'm sure there are many, many more parts to it. My sister and I had exactly the same level of activity and the same diet growing up (rigidly portion-controlled by Mom who views anything other than water to be "fattening"); sis has always been skinny and I am not. In order to be the same size that she is, I have to eat half of what she does, and exercise more than twice as much. It's not fun to only be able to eat 650 calories per day (weighed and measured out carefully for those of you who will jump on me for "estimating"), and have to run 2-3 miles per day, every day, in order to be able to fit into a size 8. For me, it's not worth it. I can certainly understand where JCW of Olive Branch MS is coming from, and sympathize.
Some of us are just that much more efficient at turning food to body tissue, just like a Golden Retriever or a Bulldog versus a Greyhound. Most Greyhounds (pet ones) are couch potatoes, by the way, yet you rarely see a fat one.

ACN, Vienna VA,

People, did you read the article? ONLY 15% or 1 in 6 have such gene which "might" be a cause of their obesity. When you take the fact that 60% of Americans here are overweight, this is not great news for the vast majority. I think many who do not eat right and who do not exercise consistently will use this news as their reason for being fat. It really does come down to a person's eating and exercise lifestyle. To prove my point here, I read an article which showed the serving sizes of school lunches in America vs Asia. The American lunch was approx. 900 calories and the Asian lunch approx 500 calories. So the question becomes, is a gene causing kids to become more overweight than 20 years ago or is it the food they consume? Is this gene causing 90% if those adults who join a gym not to go? Once a person gets sucked into a bad lifestyle i.e. fast food, little debbies, soda, white bread, etc..it is hard to change but can be done.

Trent, Dover, DE

I like the fact that scientists are doing studies on how to get fat, but can't we simply eat healthier?

I have been losing weight for the past 2 months by playing basketball and eating less. We do not need diet pills and other supplements to help us lose weight, we need self control and a little excerise.

David, Yonkers/Westchester, United States/New York

3 kg extra contributed by this gene!!!!
This shows that obesity, where people are atleast 10-20kg heavier, has to have other causes that are so abvious. The world today lives to eat, better yet, we graze like cows.

sam, chicago, il, usa

Some people can eat like a horse and never gain weight, some can't even gain when they try, while others like me exercise regularly, diet carefully and are still fat. There is obviously some physical difference and I am glad they are finally starting to find some of it. Sure, some people do get overweight by stuffing themselves and being sedentary, but that is not the picture for every heavy person, and to assume it is just is not a fair assumption. Obviously even with a genetic or health problem causing one to be fat, one should not just give up on healthy behaviors like good diet and exercise, but these things may not lead to being thin, either, but still better health.

Vale, Here, USA

People are all missing the point here. It is not just about exercise and self-control. It is about the genetic feeling of satiation. The feeling of not being hungry. Who here would enjoy living their lives in constant hunger? Most of the thin people I know are thin not because they are excellent at self-control, it's because it takes less food to satisfy their hunger. (That and thin people tend to smoke a lot, which was what I noticed more in Europe.)

Hunger is not to be underestimated. People throughout history have killed because of hunger and starvation. And dieting is a form of starvation. It is the rare person who overeats merely because they enjoy eating. Most people eat to prevent hunger.

Perhaps many thin people in Third World countries are thin but spend a lot of time in hunger. I noticed that in many documentaries about primitive cultures in Indonesia and Brazil, a lot of them are reed thin. But the foremost topic on their minds? Food. And how to get more of it.

Claudia, Atlanta, USA

So sorry to bust your bubble, but fat IS genetic. It MAY be aggravated by not exercising, but you are either disposed to being overweight or not.
My proof is this: everyone knows SOMEONE who is SKINNY, no matter what they do, or how much they eat. Someone who NEVER gains weight.
If this is true, as I know it to be because it runs in MY family, then the opposite MUST ALSO be true.

Justa Thought, Evansville, IN

I used to go to school with a fat kid called gene, I thought this article would be about him.

c, london,

I bet Shanequa is a thin person that hates fat people.

Rod, Houston, Tx, USQ

Wow, these genetics must have accounted for all of the obesity hundreds of years ago, too. Oh wait, there wasn't an obesity problem. It doesn't come down to diet pills and surgeries. Simply be more active. Put a pedometer on and get your 10,000 steps a day. Even better, set a goal of 15,000 steps, and walk a little faster than ususal. Granted, you still need to a cardiorespiratory workout, but start simple and work your way up.

Skye, Chico,

Hum?? Where has this "fat gene" been for the last 1,000 years -- now every tub of lard, couch potato 100 lb over weight face filler can say see I told you so -- "it is my father's fault"

On a percentage basis obesity is overwhelmingly not related to anything but lack of self discipline (more calories consummed than used).

For that very small percentage of folks who suffer from genuine eating disorders hopely medical remedies will be found. For the rest of you slobs, stop looking for the silver bullet cure, accept some personal responsibility for looking like a blimp and try a little exercise and show some willpower in the chow line.

E.P , Los Angeles ,

The use of the word "distract" by Christina of Fort Riley in her second sentence is a solecism. The word she is looking for is "detract".

Terry, Berkshire, UK

Here's an idea. As simple minded as it might seem, and for that I do apologize. What about finding the gene that has you take responsibilty for your health and your life?

Brian Russell McCann, Westport, Connecticut

Gareth is so full of it. There is no historical record of obesity because we now have refrigeration and other nmeans of preserving food. This has effectively eliminated periods of famine. People who lived in geographical regions where famine was common had to evolve in a way that enabled them to store fat more easily during times of plenty.

Barry, Montgomery, Alabama

A pure case of the pharmaceutical companies spotting the next "penecillin", they drive research to meet their own greedy ends. Fat people are fat due to bad diet & lack of exercise. OK slight differences will exist in morph types but not the huge variation we now see....stop making excuses for the fatties....own up to the fact that you eat too much & should exercise more

P Sword, Warsaw, Poland

Sounds to me like a big con from drugs companies to recoup/make more money. If you don't have a medical condition, you are fat because you eat too much - it's simple; control your portions, eat healthily and exercie.

ER, Oxford, Oxon

Calorie intake<calories used=eventual weight loss. These findings do not argue any differently. They are saying a homozygotic individual (having 2 copies of the obesity gene) has a higher risk of obesity. It is not saying it is soley responsible for fatness. It is a pretty classic example of nature vs nurture...some of the fat is contributed by the environment (eating too much/not working out) and some is contributed by our genes (being the result of our genes coding for different traits and functions of our body). Im not basing this on the research, but im guessing this gene codes for the different hormones instructing when and how our cells utilize, store and deal with fatty cells. That would mean it does not get people fat, but the variation would mean some people have a less efficient ability to deal with fat, and ultimately be at higher RISK for obesity. As a student of the natural sciences, just a guess based on my university studies.

Alex Jimenez, Fort Collins, CO

Just to clinch it the CSIRO in australia 20 years ago did a study on sheep, yes I know we have lots of the blighters. They found that as sheep only ate grass, no fat, chips or other bad stuff, they wanted to find why some sheep were fater than others. The answer was the number of insulin receptors on the surface of their cells. The more they had the fatter they were, I suspect this is the same FTO probably encodes for this. What you can do about it I have no idea except reduce your insulin levels.

marian, belgrave,

At last, IT has been discovered, so now perhaps the Doctors will stop blaming everything that can be wrong with a person on excessive eating and little exercise. My life all 70* years has been ruined because of a weight issue despite all my futile efforts. As a patient with a dietician being told from a food diary that you cannot eat any less but still you feel desperately unhappy inside totally unable to do so many things you would dearly love to do because you feel inhibited by your appearance, I am told I am not grotesque which is what I feel, but am described as a fairly big lady - how polite. Go to a Doctor and they will tell you you are morbidly obese - they have no idea how badly you react to that sort of comment - my case well I just curl up and hide like a good many more I have no doubt - No I am not big and proud of it.

Edna Staples, Blandford Forum, U.K.

Genes act in two ways: Some are direct causes of conditions, others required the individual carrying them to engage in certain activities. Examples of the latter are cases where one is said to be a genetic alcoholic - yes, they might be inclined towards alcoholism because of genes, but there has to be corresponding behavior, over-indulgence in alcohol, for the trait to be expressed and the key is that this behavior is voluntary. The same goes for the ridiculous argument people are "born gay" or, in this case, "born fat". Sure people with this gene may have a more difficult time staying slim, but with the proper dedication and effort, they can do it.

Greg, San Diego, CA USA

This apparent gene was discovered millions of years ago and is nothing new. As with many issues in society, genetics loads the gun whilst environment, lifestyle and diet fires the bullet.

alisha crayton, stoke-on-trent, uk

I think Shanequa is a bit close-minded. There are a lot of people who are too busy to focus on exercise or too poor to afford a gym.

It's more expensive to eat healthy, and many families can't afford to purchase dietary food.

It's not an excuse, but the majority of Americans don't have enough money for all of that.

And on top of that, lumping every obese person into one group... you should be ashamed. Do not judge others lest ye be judged. The bible says that as well, Shanequa.

Sally, Derkaville,

So a very important question to ask is probably not 'Is this a fat gene?', surely the question should be 'Does this gene have a impact on will power and self control?' If a persons' will power is overriden by a powerful chemical imbalance, is it likely to have the resulting impact of providing extra pleasure for the brain from eating that cannot as easily be quenched? Furthermore, if this is the case, will supression through drugs have a negative impact on mood and motivation?

Alistair Kipling, Birmingham,

This is another lame excuse. I really think that the main cause of obesity is overeating, negligence and ignorance. One can't posibbly become obese without overeating first! Unless of course there is a thyroid problem. Let's face it we all start in small sizes - it is first the responsibility of parents to teach their children how to choose the right food and not to overeat! I was in England during Easter weekend (Leeds Castle to be precise) and honestly, I saw babies as young as 8 months snacking on bacon crisps! The money spent on this "new discovery" should have been spent on more urgent issues, ie. sustainable development, abused children, etc! Wake-up and stop blaming other causes of obesity!

RH, France

Veronica Humi, Paris,

Now if they can only find the 'Liberalism is a Mental Disorder' gene!!!

Phil, Brooklyn, New York/ USA

Pills, Surgery, Diet Fads and all the rest are simply attempts (often highly profitable) to deal with people who faii to assume responsibility for their own well being. I have decided to make known the hitherto for secret scientific formula for successful weight loss: EAT LESS = WEIGH LESS!

Clement R Knorr, Tucson, Arizona,

ok, so the gene explains 1,2kgs. Now what about the rest of that flab!

April, Johannesburg, ZA

Wow...lots of cruel people in this world. As one of the earlier posters pointed out--what about those who cannot exercise due to disability? What about those who work so hard just to pay their taxes that they don't have time to exercise? When will governments learn that lower taxes means better quality of life because people won't have to work so hard just to pay the government?

Someone else asked what has changed between WW2 and now--now we have a lot more processed foods, more chemicals. Let's look there first to see how those chemicals have an impact on people with the "wrong" genes and go from there!

Esther, Chicago, IL

People are fat purely because they consume more calories then they burn. Simple as that, if you're unfortunately enough to have genes which mean you dont need many calories then respect this, eat less and exercise more. I grow up as a 'slightly overweight' kid, now by being careful and not lazy I have a great body....if i do say so myself!

Jamie Brown, Maidstone, England

Who cares if doctors found the gene that makes you fat.!When will they find the gene that can make you skinny?

steven bartman, Berkley, USA/ California

The mechanism that can cause obesitiy has been known for hunderds if not thousands of years. It's called the jaw muscle !

Supersize Me, London,

If only they could find and eliminate the East Coast snobbery gene...

redneck, cincinnati,

This new study simply underlines the fact that some people are designed to be survivors. In prehistoric times or even the middle ages those with with two of this gene would be the healthiest members of the society. Unfortunately for these folks we no longer require our bodies to be as efficient as we once did. However should a world wide cataclysmic event take place those with two of these genes may well find themselves in the survivor category.

Virgil McKinley, Tacoma, Washington

GJ in London....you said "...get some will power". Yup, that will work. For some people that will mean getting enough will power to stay under 700 calories for the rest of their life. That's what I had to do to remain at a "normal" weight. I now take in between 1200 and 1400 a day. I document obsessively, work out Monday through Thursday and now weigh 235. I'm satisfied with that weight now that I'm near fifty.

JCW, Olive Branch, MS

Please correct me if I am mistaken, but the point of this article is not that the gene CAUSES obesity, but there is a CORRELATION between this gene and fatty composition within the body. This discovery provides a BASIS for better understanding how people's metabolisms differ, and how the body turns ingested food into fat. Understanding this process can lead to medications which may help the severely obese, and can be used to guide the various companies which process our food into making healthier products.

It isn't necessarily lack of exersize that makes people fat. I work out 1-2 hours a day 4 or 5 days a week, plus anything else I may do for fun. I'm fairly physically active. While I'm not obese, I've noticed that I'll get "soft" in certain spots depending on what I eat. I've noticed this with rice. My body composition will change depending on the BRAND I buy, more than how often I eat it. Companies that produce our food need to monitor HOW it's prepared as much as WHAT it is.

Alex, Chi-Town, USA

While I agree that certainly there are things everyone can do to become thinner (exercise and healthy eating habits) it is also true that there exists a great variation between people making it HARDER and EASIER for various people to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. I have been married for going on 7 years, and observed the great difference between my husband's metabolism and my own - I have to exercise an hour a day, 7 days a week to maintain weight, whereas he can maintain exercising 30 minutes twice per week. He can eat all sorts of junk food and still be okay - as soon as I touch sugar, I gain a pound or more. I think this is an important finding to help people understand individual differences which exist, and hopefully help them understand what they personally need to do to be healthy. It is important to know that my body responds differently to food, because I can then use that knowledge to make healthy choices.

Emily, Urbana, IL

Not so easy to understand, as I am now on a much better eating routine than I was 5 years ago but have put on nearly 30 lbs in that time. I just found a medical report from 2002 when my weight was 209 lbs, I am now 235 lbs.
Since Christmas I have reduced my food intake by about 25% and choose much lower fat options, more salad, less starch etc. I had gone to nearly 250 by Christmas. I lost 10 lbs quite quickly but have now stabalized at 235 and don't seem to be able to shift any more despite keeping to my lower level intake and exercising 5 mornings per week. So, as I have read in other articles, my body has adjusted to the new norm and is maintaining my current weight. In other words, my body has decided what the norm should be and even if I am still eating less it does not seem to reduce any more. If someone can explain that please let me know.

keith manton, houston, usa

It would be interesting to start checking now for the incidence in various racial groups. In Wilson's Temperature Syndrome I believe the point is made that those groups who had to survive periods of famine were more likely to suffer from the condition than others. If I remember rightly North American Indiians, Celtic groups, certain groups from Russia headed the list of highest percentage of sufferers. The researchers into WTS have said that it is, in their view, a response to a need to survive in starvation condiitions, but that the mechanism that comes into play does not correct itself after the dangerous privations have passed. Here in the UK it has been impossible to get the condition taken seriously and recognised by the NHS. Private treatment has been the only option, rarely found and never government supported. Should anyone be interested, more information can be found on the WTS website.

Marguerite de Woeps, Great Yarmouh , Norfolk. UK

I am 50 yrs old I weigh 185lbs and am 5' tall. my mom 275 my grandmother 300 and greatgrandmother 325-350. My Grandmother and great grandmother did not live in a time of plentful food and easy lifestyles. I have always felt Genetics play a bigger part that what is commonly excepted. My grandfather was 6' 1" and a beanpole. I have a 5'8" sister, 130 lbs. We were raised in the same household and have simular lifestyles. Tell me thats not genetic!!

Vickie L. Baker, Dixon, MO

If you cut processed foods from your diet and put genuine effort into staying active and exercising regularly, you WILL achieve a healthy physique. Your body is not designed to eat mickeyD's everyday and drink soda with every meal. You are designed to drink water, eat greens, whole grains, fruit, fish, and lean meat. Further, you are not designed to sit on the couch watching TV for hours on end. Understand that not everyone can have a hollywood body with washboard abs and glutes you can bounce a dime off but ANYONE can be healthy. It takes discipline and sacrificing rich processed foods from your diet. So you have the fat gene. So what? Its not an excuse, it just means that you have to be more diligent with your body. No one achieves obesity without neglect, gene or no gene. You don't deserve sympathy, you don't need a gastric bypass, and you don't need weight-loss drugs. You need to get off the couch and stay out of fast food restaurants.

Cappy, Houston, TX

A few months ago it was a virus...what happened to that vaccine?

Harrison, Houston, USA

ive lived all over the world and diet is the #1 factor, followed by genetics. in undeveloped parts of asia one NEVER sees overweight individuals. NEVER. why? because of diet. they eat rice instead of greasy burgers and fries. simple as that. and the clincher is that in more developed cities (bangkok, KL, singapore) there are some overweight individuals because there's access to mcdonalds, kfc, and the like.

jj, greenville, sc

Ooohh here we go! Won't be long before we slammed by anti-weight discrimination acts.

Genes. The Nirvana of the Politically Correct.

Pete, Cov,

For most of us it comes down to (4) words - Eat less, exercise more. For the rest of us poor souls who have a genetic predisposition to being fat, I am afraid even if there is a pharmaceutical cure we will be in our twilight years before the FDA approves of it.

MarioB, Bloomfield, NJ

OK. Now how do I have the bloody thing removed?

Jason Blosser, Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States

They weigh an average of 3 kg more?!?! Oh my GOSH!!! Oh wait, that's only 6.6 lbs. Maybe it is just me, but I don't consider someone FAT if they need to lose 6 1/2 pounds - 60 maybe, but not 6 1/2. Let's face it, if you are obese it’s probably because you are lazy and have a bad diet.

Philip, Columbia, SC

A few years ago I lost a great deal of weight and I have been regaining it ever since, and I know it's largely a result of my eating habits. But those who dismiss the genetics and just say "Eat less and exercise more, fatty!" are missing the point; this genetic component means that it is more likely that whatever amount gets eaten is going to be stored as fat and that it is harder to lose the weight through exercise (I was only eating once a day when I lost the weight; just eating two regular meals a day put the weight back on me). Just as there are people who can eat anything and stay thin, there are people who can eat nothing and stay fat. If discoveries like this can help them (and me) fight the battle of the bulge, then more power to the scientists.

Scott, Binghamton, NY, USA

Does this gene make my butt look fat?

Ron, Suwanee,

Maybe I missed domething here, but if one in four adults are obese then how can the next statement that half of men and one third of women are obese be accurate?

Don, ALTON , NH, USA

All of you people need to read "The China Study" by Colin Campbell. Then you will begin to understand the cause for the explosion in obesity. It's not a gene, it's the fatty, greasy, salty, animal protein crammed Western diet.

Mike, Jackson, TN, USA

Eat less, excercise more. Not exactly rocket science.

D. Chibiablo, Galicia,

It's a perfectly simple equation. If energy in > energy out you're going to get fat. Eat less, do more exercise and hey presto you'll loose weight. All this scientific gene malarkey is just overkill!

Chria, London,

It's another excuse for wide loads!

Richard, Cardiff,

Eat in moderation and cut heavily processed foods from your diet entirely. Your body is designed to endure stressful exercise, drink water, eat greens, whole grains, fruit and lean meat. If you eat awful processed food from MickeyD's everyday and do not exercise, you're living an un-natural life and should not be surprised that you have an un-naturally fat body. People who do not have the discipline to take care of themselves deserve no sympathy. Having the gene referenced in the story means that your ancestors survived lean times by being able to store as much energy as possible from limited food sources. It doesn't make you special, it means that you have to be more careful with your diet. Don't whine about being fat. Do something about it.

Cappy, Houston, TX

This must be like the gay gene. This nonsense is determine via data minig with high speed computers. Correlations and clusters exist in random data. There was a "gene" in the media once a week or so after the completion of the human genome project, all of which were quietly dropped when found not to have any underlying basis.

Beware of scientifically illiterate journalists (and Al Gore) reporting on science.

c. Wagener, Lafayette, CA

Or the know it all yankee gene!

Allen, Macon, Georgia USA

Re Harry, Australia:

I think you're missing the point 3Kg of fat is not obese and not everybody that is obese will have these genes. Even one of the discoverers of this gene remark that it creates a risk not obesity.

NIck, Essex, UK

The gene is unlikely to be sporadic to our generation, but Obesity is a 21st century problem. I cant help agreeing with the above that laziness is the greatest causal factor, BMI +++ people please don't read this and think you can give up trying to lose the Ib's becasue there is a reason, you can still lose it despite what your genes infer!

sarah, london, UK

NEWSFLASH! Further research suggests this rogue gene is activated by CAKE!!

Kelly, London, UK

Now if we can find an treat the stupid, ugly and mean genes, we will have created the perfect world!

Dan, Cape Cod, USA

The redneck gene may very well have been a part of forming this country - and defends it still today.

I wish they could eliminate the wishy washy liberal gene and make people succeed or fail on their own. What happened to taking care of your own family and not depending on the government for everything.....

Mark, Conway, AR

We're spending a lot of time talking about a cause for obesity here. No matter how much you research this, the two primary causes of obesity will remain (drum roll please) 1. lack of exercise, and 2. intake of too more calories than needed.

If you took care of 1., you wouldn't need to worry so much about 2. Nor would you have to worry about your genes.

And lay off the person who wrote from the bible. Why are you attacking her when you actually agree with her premise? You are attacking her for believing a truth she quoted because it comes from the bible? Grow up people!

Joe, Arlington, VA

I find the harsh judgments interesting since I was once one who thought fat people were lazy, dumb, etc. I was a vegetarian, walked miles, drank no alcohol, lifted weights and avoided fast food. I then got very ill and was on prednisone for many months. I gained 100 lbs. I still am vegetarian. I walked 21-30 miles ea week (until I was crippled with arthritis now I use a special bike). I drink no alcohol. I lift weights and avoid fast food. I cannot budge the weight. I did get my masters degree after getting fat. I also changed my opinion. One cannot judge people by appearances and generalize on why they are as they are.

Helen, Peoria, AZ

Has anyone discovered the gene that is responsible for less eating and more exercising?

Kim Righetti, Upland, Clif. USA

One of the laws of nature: survival of the . . . . . "fat est".

Leanonme, Scarsdale, New York

If obesity is genetic then why do we not have historical records of people being obese on the same scale (in terms of numbers not jeans size!) as today? Henry VIII may have been a bit of a fatty, but I don't remember being taught that the reason we defeated the Spanish Armada was that the Spaniards were so busy eating double cheeseburgers their ships sank under the weight (I know Henry VII was dead by the time of the Armada, but you get the idea).

Of course some people will be able to turn food into fat more quickly/efficiently than others. That has nothing to do with obesity. As Oonagh from Hong Kong pointed out the genetic differences only make you obese if you are already massively overweight.

If fat people want to be less fat then they should eat less and/or exercise more. It's not rocket science.

Gareth, London,

This is simply another excuse for people to eat the wrong types of food and overeat.

This small variant in genetic makeup is a minor contributor to the obesity in our society. Rosemary's comments say it all. She stopped eating sugar/s and processed carbos and she lost 100 pounds.

Then she went back to her destructive behavior and gained it back.

Sorry folks. You are what you eat.

JohnG, Jackson, NJ

Individual laziness is not the issue. It is corporate laziness. The profit margin for processed carbohydrate calories is much higher and simpler to attain than those calories from whole foods such as meet and vegetables.

When regular people are convinced by the corporate investors to eat junk food in the name of a "healthy low fat diet" you have to expect an increase in obesity.

History also shows that people who move away from an indegenous lifestyle UNIFORMLY increase obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Did ALL these people suddenly stop working for a living? Did you? So consider that we need to give people good information to avoid fattening foods (of which fat is NOT one).

I know the profit margin isn't quite so high, but cmon corporatoins, give us a break.

Dennis, Omaha, NE, USA

I grew up skinny as a rail and at age 30 was still thin, although both sides of my family were obese. Then I developed a disease which left me unable to exercise. I started putting on the pounds.A cure for my disease has not been found and there are days I do well to get out of bed. When I read Shanequa and Dave's thoughts they mirror the stares and ridicule I often get due to my obesity. Yes, I'm the fat girl on the cart. I wish people would stop staring and have compassion. If I could get up and exercise I would. We're not all lazy. I long to go places with my grandchildren. I long to spend a day on my feet shopping with my friends. All I ask is the next time you see a fat person don't jump to the conclusion that they're all useless and lazy. At the end of my 40 hr work week, it's all I can do to drag myself home, sleep for 2 days and then go back to work on Monday and pray my body will hold out until the next Friday. I hope find the FT0 gene will help people like me.

Jan, Austin, TX

Why is it regarded as fair game in public to make fun of a person who is thought to be overweight, whilst there is a taboo on over issues such as colour.
No person overweight enjoys the fact.
Perhaps it should be said that in any fat person there is a thin person trying to get out.

Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD,

Tell that to the starving millions! More ridiculous, self obsessed rubbish from a society that has forgotten how to take only what it needs and value what it has got.

Zak, London, UK

Read Michael Crichton's book "Next" and you'll never read these gene reports again the same way.

Bill, Brookline,

Give me more of that obesity gene please! I adore my fat arse!

Lou, U.K,

What!!!? How many obese people were there in the UK during WW2? Did this gene develop recently? For heavens sake! Of course there are physical and metabolic disorders that can cause obesity, but most of it is plain over-eating, crap food and total and utter SLOTH.

Jeremy Poynton, Fromeville, 51st State

'Fat' gene found by scientists
At last I can eat chip and fish and chips and chips and chips and berger and hot and cold dog gee I am so pleased May I have the genie please or it is to be patented and R & D take seven years to market this. Gee I am happy roll on the mangoes I need the energy. To hell with the fat belt and the under wear size XXXXXXXLLLLLRRRRLLLL

Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD, Dar Es salaam, Tanzania

An interesting insight into how some people carry more fat than others. But an average 7lbs does not make you go from normal to obese. According to this article only 11% (70% of 16%) are affected by the 7lb increase, yet some 20% of the population are clinically obese. These obese people are carrying way much more than 7lbs of excess fat.

Kingsley, Milton, UK

As far as Americans being lazy, "Workers in the United States already put in more than 1,800 hours on the job a year: 350 hours more than the Germans and slightly more than the Japanese, according to the International Labor Office. "

Kev, Knoxville, TN, USA

I hear a few folks sayin' that if folks just got off their butts real
regular-like, nobody would be fat, yadda yadda yadda.

If Gramma had wheels, she'd be a trolley car - I have heard more than enough of the pessimistic crowd, it's time for them to sit down and shut up. They seem to offer nothing useful anyway.

If this is the starting point that is presented to us we need to make the most of it, only then can we keep moving and get more people away from McD's and their TV sets.

It's a big ship, it will take a while to turn it around.
Complaining about the iceberg is useless.

Tom Jones, Seattle , Washington

I find myself agreeing with Gregory here. Is it all just another excuse for poor dietary, health and exercise lifestyles? Wake up fatties, cut out the chips, alcohol, high saturated fat foodstuffs and all the low quality ready-meals/junk foodstuffs (minimise the carbs too, trust me it'll help). Eat a well balanced diet (lots of fruit & veg and meat/fish for protein) and exercise regularly - get off the couch you potatoes. 'Dieting' per se is just not necessary as long as you balance what you do. Like the Victorians said " everything in moderation". It's not difficult - get some will power. Just say no to that second helping of fast-food... step away from the pies... put the cakes down...

GJ, London, UK

I have prayed for 60 years that they would find this link. I have been an eating disorded counselor and struggled with weight since four years old I'm now 60. It is a family problem so I always knew genits played a role. For three years I ate no sugar or flour and kept off 100 pounds but alas I ate them again and I was off and running putting back 75 of those lost. I take responsibility for eating those chemicals but I would love some help from the scientific world to combat the problem. Diet pills and surgeries don't change genetics and so the weight comes back I know I have done both.

Rosemary, Lake City, Florida/Usa

Rick, I am wondering why your girlfriend puts up with you, I hate guys who dictate what their girlfriends should eat. Also have you thought about the amount of calories and sugar there is in most alcholic drinks? And I'm not sure that binge drinking is better for you than overeating, as well as the health risks there is also the danger she is putting herself in by getting so drunk. Surely it is better to do everything in modereation? Eating and drinking?

JC, London, UK

This is obviously not going to resolve obesity in people who do no exercise and eat a large amount of food. Nor will it resolve obesity in people who make poor choices in the foods that they eat (e.g. eating fast food three times a day). However, it will help those people who eat well and exercise and still seem to retain fat.

Homer, Washington, DC

As a scientist and Registered Dietitian (RD) in the states, I have found time and time again that genetic links to obesity however valid, are not one's fate. You can alter the course of your body fat percentage by coming to terms with energy balances germane to your body type, frame, behaviors surrounding food, etc.. You might never be "model thin" but you can attain a healthier weight by educating yourself and practicing self discipline. It is simple, but not easy.

Zett, Washington, DC, USA

This blame culture business is getting out of hand. It won't be long before scientists discover genes that cause people to become an alcoholic, rapist, thief, paedophile, lazy bum etc. The trouble with people these days is they do not know the meaning of self control, self restraint as well as how to tell the right from wrong. If we can not control our urges or desires and act in a responsible manner we are no better than animals. Ultimately we are responsible for what we do. No body is born genetically perfect but that does not give us the excuse to commit crimes or being horrible to people.

Wing, Poole, UK

Dear Christina, your comments to Lillian's grammatical mistakes are quite correct. By the way, not only the first and third "whom", but the second one is wrong as well. There again, it is a subject. Also, no such word as "gal" exist in any good English dictionary: why not write "girl" instead?

Claudio, Ascoli Piceno, Italy

Thank you Christina. Lillian's egregious grammerical errors were simply disgusting and necessitated immediate correction.

Nat, Marion, IL

Strange how it's mostly Americans posting comments!

Generally speaking, people are overweight because they eat too much and don't take enough exercise. And that's the end of it.

This scientific breakthrough will simply give more people a convenient excuse for continuing their unhealthy lifestyles and not taking responsibility for their own well-being. Then, when they become chronically ill & require expensive medical care, it will be the healthy responsible individuals who have to foot the bill through taxes. As our 'genetically obese' friends will be too ill to work & therefore contribute to the revenue!

Graham, Leeds, West Yorks

Lets not get too carried away here, this is interesting news and helps in part to explain why some people put on more adipose tissue but an average additional weight of 3Kg may put your body mass index up by one point but is hardly obese in it's self. There are many other factors that contribute to a persons weight such as gluttony and sloth and it is still by and large a life style choice.

Nick, Essex, UK

Dear Christina of Fort Riley, KS
GET A LIFE!!!

Annemarie Fairweather, Cheshunt, England

All these comments seem to come from people avoiding the fact that stabilizing metabolism and maintaining an exercise regimen - sex at least, can be helpful. Eat american fries! Enjoy! But the point is not to get so obscenely obese you overflow your chair while stuffing your face and then whine that people see you as ridiculous. I'd much rather watch my girlfriend stagger around plastered on her favorite alcoholic beverage than way past her height to weight ratio because she can't stop eating everything that attempts to run by her mouth.

rick, atlanta, ga

ok, so the gene explains 1,2kgs. Not what about the rest of that flab!

April, Johannesburg, ZA

At last a reason why I can put weight on by just looking at food & my friend can eat for Ireland

Thelma pedlow, Belfast,

Yet another excuse for all those overweight people to put the blame somewhere else. It really isn't rocket science, eat less exercise more it is as simple as that. If I don't exercise I put on weight easily. If I've gained some kilos I do the above. It is an interesting article and some people do put on weight easier than others but don't let yourself get overweight in the first place!
In those countries where food is hard to come by there doesn't seem to be many people affected by the 'fat gene'!

Gregory, Dartford, England

This is excellent news for it means not only can we diagnose people at risk who may needlessly blame themselves and feel guilty for not doing enough to lose weight but also opens the possibility for a treatment to deal with some cases of obesity by supplementing the "correct" version of the protein that the mutation may prevent from being made in the body. It is time to recognise the importance of what many have observed well before the advent of the science of genetics - that heredity plays a very important role in how we respond to our environment. Controversial as it may seem, "laziness" itself is likely to be a function of heredity and rather than bury heads in the sand we should embrace our biological individuality and learn to make the most of it by learning about it.

Harry Banaharis, Melbourne, Australia

if only they could find and eliminate the redneck gene...

sane, new york, ny

i'm with you sista!!

LeeLoo, grimsby,

If obesity is caused by laziness, as one commentor remarks, then the United States has the laziest people in the world!

Seriously and realistically, this is a great scientific step forward, but it's going to be even more interesting exactly HOW this gene affects obesity. Are people who inherit the gene inherently less active, or do they metabolize more slowly, or are they more prone to compulsive eating? There's many ways in which people might become obese. Either there are other mechanisms apart from this gene involved, or some of the reasons advanced for why people become obese (such as slower metabolism) simply aren't true, because one gene is not going to be guiding all these different mechanisms by which people theoretically can become obese.

Lester Markam, Simi Valley, USA/California

Well, Shanequa, if the Bible tells us laziness is the cause of obesity, then what does it tell us is the cause of ignorance?

Ted, Ohio, USA

I don't find the word "balme" in my Bible

Fr. Bob, Livermore, CA

It's a logical sequence of events. For many thousands of years those whose bodies could store fat would be most likely to survive the hardships of primitive life. Just as a bear stores fat for hibernation - so the human body that could store fat would be more likely to survive famine. Today the descendants of those survivors would carry the lucky genes - but now they are unlucky.

Sallie Bailey, Fayetteville, NY

@Shanequa
It's amazing when something is posted on Drudge Report how the sheep flock in and post ignorant statements. This is great news for people who fight day in and day out with their weight.

John, Los Angeles, USA / CA

The people with this gene weigh an average of 3kg more than people without it? That's 7 pounds, half a stone. In what crazy Times Online version of reality does half a stone constitute obesity? Of course it can make the difference between being obese and simply overweight. But you have to be overweight first!!

Oonagh, Hong Kong,

Regarding the Bible Thumper from NC/USA: I think I would rather put my trust in genetics than a bible verse. After all, didn't God create DNA? And didn't man write the Bible?

Skeptical, Pembroke, MA/USA

Who cares what the Bible says when it comes to obesity? No wonder this country is so screwed up.

Oliver Brady, Los Angeles, CA

Hey, what about the stupid gene? Why are they discriminating here? Is it because only THEY will be smart?? As far as calling it a FAT gene - we must (in this age of political correction) refer to over weight people as "calorically challenged" or be subject to relentless lawsuits by people too lazy to get off their plump butts to work for a living. Of course if you want to get to the meat of the subject (sorry bout the pun), Howard Stern had it right when it comes to losing weight "learn to put the fork down stupid". So there you have it! It all comes down to the stupid gene!

Jim B, Philly, PA

LIllian is right. If you're 50, every great scientific breakthrough can only be met with a "so what" shrug because you'll be in a nursing home before it's available. And if that's not bad enough, even when it is finally available, insurance companies will refuse to pay for many of them for years.

Scott, Detroit, Michigan

"Sweet! Another excuse to eat lots of processed garbage while I sit all day!" No longer is it "the devil made me do it"... now it will be "my genes made me do it!" Personal accountability will be our savior from victimhood....let's hope we all get it.

Jason, Los Angeles, CA

Dear Lillian, I write this as a gal trying to help out a fellow Texan. Your grammatical mistakes distract from the point you're making. The word "who" not "whom" should be used when it is the subject of the clause, that is, when it is doing the action. The first and third time you used "whom," it should have been "who." And "theirs" is already possessive; it doesn't need an apostrophe.

Christina, Fort Riley, KS

I believe that a 'fat' gene is not the cause of obesity; laziness is the cause of obesity, the bible even states this. People should stop trying to find a balme for their laziness.

Shanequa, Roxboro, NC/ USA

"Obesity is a main cause of heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes."

Obesity is not the main cause of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Otherwise, why would non-obese people get this in large numbers as well? The mistake people make is between Causation and Correlation. They are mistakenly attributing causation to obesity when there is, in fact, only a correlation. How about studying obese people who exercise compared to those who do not, and then see how much heart disease there is? Because a lot of fat people do not exercise, which is why they are fat, they also are prone to getting heart disease. And, until they find the cause of cancer, they sure can't blame it on obesity. I know many, many thin to medium sized cancer victims. Again, correlation may apply, but not causation. Science, remember, is the search for truth, not the declaration of it.

Dave, Orlando, Florida, USA

I must admit, all of the scientific research and its findings are excellent. As someone whom grew up being overweight, but has lost all of it and sustained it for over 10 years, anything that may psychologically and physically impact the betterment of a people is excellent. Now, I do not say this pointing any fingers - simply a general, non-judgmental comment - when will anything be done which will benefit those whom this may affect right here, and right now? Science seems to be great at finding reasons, causes, and effects, but there is a huge problem when it boils down to execution. Will it be my kids whom benefit, or maybe their's? That's my overall comment. Now that such great things have been discovered, isn't it time to use them before it becomes too late for millions?

Lillian, Austin, Texas USA

Please get a simple, easy to take drug, that can help the overweight person to loose weight and thus help him/her to be a more healthy person. I am one of those persons. I have diabetes, type 2. I exercise but cannot loose the weight. I am on Insulin, which causes weight gain. I am very careful what I eat.

jane a. dibble, vestal, U.S. New york state