Obesity Gene Leads People to Overeat

While obesity is likely the result of numerous gene interactions, researchers have found that at least one of the genes involved makes it harder for carriers to recognize when they are full. Usually, eating food "switches off" a person’s appetite and causes a feeling of fullness, but this study found that children carrying the higher risk version of the FTO gene are more likely to overeat and struggle to recognize when they are full. Earlier studies have shown that adults with a single copy of the higher risk version of the gene are on average 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) heavier than those without the gene, while those with two copies are an average of 6.6 lbs (3 kg) heavier.