Especially in the last 30 years, the fact that overweight and obesity is not only a personal problem but also seriously affects social life has increased the interest in the subject and extensive research has begun. Some of these studies have focused on how and to what extent genetic factors play a role in obesity. Are there certain genes that make a person obese or a candidate for obesity?

Oops! Is Obesity Inherited From Our Family?

Despite the great technological developments in recent years, the genetic background and environmental relationships that cause obesity are still being investigated.

Of course, there are also pleasing and groundbreaking gene-wide studies in the definition and treatment of obesity. FTO, known as the obesity gene, is a very important discovery. It turned out that those who have this gene have a 20-30% higher risk of obesity than other people.

In addition, more than 30 candidate genes related to body mass index on 12 chromosomes have been identified in genome-based studies. It can be said that even the FTO gene, which has the most effect among these candidate genes, has a very small percentage in the formation of obesity.

If our parents are overweight or obese, we are more likely to be overweight or have a tendency to gain weight. However, the prevalence in the whole world of overweight and obesity is so high today that it is insufficient to explain this with genetic factors alone. If genetic factors are at most 30% in obesity, our individual lifestyle and environmental conditions determine the remaining percentage. nurturing our genetic predisposition to obesity and awakening it is actually related to one’s current life habits. People with the obesity gene can be at the ideal weight if they follow their healthy living habits. So we are not doomed to our genetic heritage, obesity is not our destiny!