- Fried food causes more weight gain in people genetically prone to obesity
- Findings prove cutting fried food consumption is key to preventing obesity
By
Emma Innes
19:01 EST, 18 March 2014
|
19:01 EST, 18 March 2014
People who have a genetic tendency towards obesity put on more weight when they eat fried food than people who are not prone to weight gain
Many of us feel guilty when we tuck into a pile of greasy, fried food.
But new research suggests some of us need to feel guiltier than others – and it is all down to the genes.
People whose genes put them at risk of obesity could be more likely to pile on the pounds when they eat fried foods, a study suggests.
Eating fried foods four times a week or more had twice as big an effect on the weight of those with the highest genetic obesity scores, compared to those with the lowest, Harvard researchers found.
Even eating the foods once or twice a week increased the risk of being overweight in people who had a genetic predisposition to obesity.
It is the first time experts have looked at the interaction between obesity genetics, weight, and a certain food group.
The team analysed data from more than 37,000 men and women taking part in three U.S. health trials.
Using questionnaires, they looked at food consumption at home and away and calculated a genetic risk score based on 32 known genetic variants associated with BMI and obesity.
Those in the highest third of genetic risk had twice the difference in BMI if they ate fried food four times a week or more compared to those with the lowest risk.
Meanwhile, those with the highest risk who ate the foods one to three times a week were also heavier than people with lower genetic risk.
Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the authors, including from the Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School in Boston, U.S., said: ‘We found a significant interaction between fried food consumption and genetic predisposition to adiposity (obesity).
‘These results for the first time suggest that individuals with a greater genetic predisposition to [obesity] might be more susceptible to the adverse influence of overconsumption of fried food on [obesity]; and overconsumption of fried foods might magnify genetic effects on [obesity].’
Even eating fried foods once or twice a week increases the risk of being overweight in people who have a genetic predisposition to obesity
Assistant professor Lu Qi, from the Harvard School of Public Health, added: ‘Our findings emphasise the importance of reducing fried food consumption in the prevention of obesity, particularly in individuals genetically predisposed to [obesity].’
Professor Alexandra Blakemore and Dr Jessica Buxton, from Imperial College London, said in an accompanying editorial: ‘This work provides formal proof of interaction between a combined genetic risk score and environment in obesity.’
However, they said the results ‘are unlikely to influence public health advice, since most of us should be eating fried food more sparingly anyway’.
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You are wrong,
london, United Kingdom,
moments ago
It has more calories so it’s no surprise that people who eat more of it are fatter
Michael,
Yorkshire, United Kingdom,
17 minutes ago
So in short some people have a higher resting metabolism than others? Still you need to move to burn excess calories…
imjustsayin24,
liverpool,
39 minutes ago
Oh my god thank god youve told me fried food is fatening dm i had no idea! Ridiculous article again seriously poor journalism
heartless harry,
nottingham, United Kingdom,
40 minutes ago
NO..NO..NO..there isn`t a fat gene..if anything they should call it a knife and fork gene..or a stuffed cake-hole gene..they need training to walk past take aways and other fast food outlets..walk?..i meant waddle
Nick,
North West, United Kingdom,
41 minutes ago
I am gutted (no pun) with this news. I go the gym 5 times a week for two hrs a time. I do a 20 min run every time then a 1 and a half hour weight training session with heavy and light weights. I am one of the strongest and fittest in the gym but I can’t get my gut to go unless I starve myself and even then I cant go long enough to get rid of my gut. So now I know I’ve been hitting a wall. Arrrrrrrrrrr fat man
Master Yoda,
Formally Degobah System_ now, United Kingdom,
55 minutes ago
In other news, The Pope reveals he is indeed a Catholic and Bears in the Woods share their bathroom habits… you may get a shock as to where they do their business!
mylife somewhere,
liverpool,
1 hour ago
i could have told them that without the cost involved i have a sister in law who no matter what she eats and she loves and bread with butter , and i can eat six slices of bread accompanied by countless number of cups of tea with five sugars and she is 7st some are thin some fat no matter what happens
htotfalitm,
Seattle, United States,
1 hour ago
fat people will say anything to excuse their disgusting habit
Reubenene,
Victoria, Australia,
1 hour ago
Fried food is fattening??? Geez, had no idea!!!
shaznay,
london, United Kingdom,
1 hour ago
Don’t even have to eat chips to recognise that I have the fat gene. All part f our make up which is ancient genetic history.
Can’t wait for the day Boots offer ‘Fat Gene Removal Surgery’ – seem to be able to rectify e’thing else these days. Plus point: I’d get 4 points per pound on my Advantage Card!!!!
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