Are there genes that make us fat

                                                    

If a person is overweight, about 60% of the blame can be attributed to their genes. There are, for example, several genes that influence the appetite by releasing hunger and satiety hormones. The proportion of energy intake that the body stores as fat, rather than allowing it to be burned, is also partly genetically determined. In most cases, a healthy diet and physical activity can effectively reverse any trend towards obesity. There is little prospect of success, however, in cases where a rare genetic defect is responsible. The mutation of a hormone or its binding site in the brain, for example, can produce constant feelings of hunger that lead to obesity. Only medical treatment can help in cases of this kind