While genetics is an important factor in determining overweight and obesity, food choices and physical activity play a far more significant role. A family history can increase the odds that you will be overweight and obese, but lifestyle determines whether or not a gene is expressed. In other words, just because you have the overweight or obesity gene, you are NOT doomed to be overweight.
Consider these examples which illustrate that obesity is not genetic:
- Chinese people who migrate to Western countries become overweight and obese even though obesity is rare in rural China.
- The majority of Americans are overweight, but the majority of Americans are not genetically related.
- Obese families are likely to have obese pets.
In spite of having parents who are overweight or obese, overweight individuals have been shown to have success with dieting and exercise.
While exercise is an important factor in determining who becomes overweight or obese and who does not, diet is by far the stronger variable here. A diet rich in whole, natural plant-foods can turn off those overweight and obesity genes once and for all.
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