Diet or Genetics: What Really Causes Us to Gain Weight?
Many of us tend to blame genetics for our body weight, but we can't ignore the amount of food we consume. A new study examined the issue and made some conclusions. The results are here for you.
(Photo: shutterstock)According to a new study conducted in the United States, researchers discovered that contrary to the widespread assumption that genetics cause weight gain, the main reason for weight increase lies in the amount and quality of food we intake.
In order to lose weight, it is essential to reduce food intake rather than blame genetics, as found in a study conducted in the United States and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The prevailing assumption until now was that genetic factors are responsible for why some people find it easy to lose weight, while others struggle. To test this theory, researchers from Stanford University conducted a randomized trial with 609 overweight adults. All participants underwent insulin and genetic testing before being assigned for a year to a group with either a low-fat or low-carb diet.
Genetic analysis identified a variation related to how the body processes carbohydrates or fats, while weight loss, averaging between 5 to 6 kilograms, occurred irrespective of the diet type participants were assigned to or their insulin levels.
The study found a significant difference between those who ate healthy food and those who did not. Participants who lost the most weight consumed the most vegetables, while consuming fewer sugary drinks, unhealthy fats, and processed food. During the year of the study, participants received 22 nutrition education sessions and were encouraged to engage in physical activity, but the focus remained on their food intake.
"We eat to fill the stomach," explained Prof. Lennert Veerman from Griffith University's School of Medicine in Australia: "If it's vegetables, we tend to lose weight - but if it's chocolate or chips along with soft drinks, we gain weight."
