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August 5, 1997
"...lifestyle habits outperform genes almost always."
NEXT WEEK:
TBD
If you have a question or concern about healthy dietary
choices, send it to us in an e-mail message, and
we'll forward it to Dr. Attwood.
Obesity and Diabetes
My daughter, husband,
and grandparents are all overweight. Several members of
the family developed diabetes during their middle years.
I'm the only slender person in our family. How much do
you think their genes play in this tendency to gain
weight and get diabetes. What can I expect for my
grandchildren?
I'm inclined to believe
that obesity is usually determined for the most part by
lifestyle and to a far lessor extent by genetic factors.
During the past decade the incidence of obesity has
doubled, whereas the human genetic pattern hasn't changed
for over 50,0000 years. Even when there may be a slight
genetic tendency to gain weight, this is far outweighed
by eating and exercise patterns. Often the mother is fat,
the father is fat, and the dog is fat.
Adult onset diabetes is another example. We know that there is a genetic tendency to develop this disease among certain individuals who gain excessive weight. A proper plant-based diet and exercise program effectively prevents obesity, and the gene may never express itself. In other words, lifestyle habits outperform genes almost always.
Your
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