The results of a study published in the American Journal of Nutrition show that genes account for 75 per cent of the difference between obese and slim children, with factors such as diet and exercise, previously thought to be far more significant, playing a smaller role. The study by Professor Wardle and Susan Carnell examined 5,092 sets of twins, some identical and some fraternal. Identical twins share all of their genes whilst fraternal twins share only half. By studying twins who live together and who share similar environmental factors, the scientists were able to establish that identical twins were far more likely to share patterns of obesity than fraternal twins. This suggests that the environmental factors play a far less significant role than twins’ genes.
In the U.K. over 30 per cent of children are now overweight or obese and the number is rising steadily. There has been a 7 per cent increase in the number of obese children aged between 2 and 10 in the past decade.
The results, whilst proving that certain children have a genetic predisposition to obesity, also reiterates that exercise and good diet will counter balance the genes which Mother Nature has dished out