It has long been believed that people are overweight simply because they are slovenly, undisciplined gluttons. But time has proven this to be a narrow, and somewhat naïve view of a very complex problem. In some individuals, and it is important to stress some, obesity is much less a moral failing than a biochemical predisposition towards hunger, a condition that has recently been associated with a so-called "fat gene."

      Knowing there may be a genetic basis for some forms of obesity does not in itself resolve the weight management problem for most people, nor does this knowledge somehow make it "ok" to be fat even for those who may be so afflicted, at least not from the point of view of your health. The tremendous stress that excessive weight puts on the human body contributes significantly to many other maladies, some of which can lead to life-threatening conditions.

      The causative factor of a genetic predisposition to obesity is rooted, at least in part, to a disruption of the underlying mechanism behind the hunger impulse, a natural, evolved (so-called, hard-wired) trait present in all people. Without it, we would all die of starvation.
      Relatively recent medical research has isolated a hormone known as leptin, a protein produced by the fat cells themselves (this in itself is extraordinary, but a complex subject of its own). As to its function, leptin is released into the bloodstream in quantities relative to the condition of the fat cells, acting as a messenger that delivers a signal to the hunger impulse center in the brain.

      • the greater the bulk of the fat cells, the more leptin that is released
      • the more leptin in the bloodstream, the greater the suppressant effect
        on the hunger center in the brain
      • the more the hunger impulse is depressed, the less desire you have to eat

      In truth, however, leptin deficiency itself appears to be a relatively rare condition. A more common problem appears to be a genetic defect in the hypothalamus (the area of the brain where the hunger impulse is generated) that prevents normal levels of leptin from successfully passing on its "don't eat" message.

      Although some individuals are clearly affected by such genetic impairments, the natural hunger impulse remains a challenge to overcome for everyone else. What this science has clearly revealed, is that appetite is not entirely a matter of free will. This not only contributes, but adds insult to the unfortunate reality, that the majority of us still suffer simply from poor eating habits.
      For individuals who believe they may be affected by a genetic aberration, the best advice is to consult with your health care provider for options that may be available to you. The rest of us simply have to “face the music,” and seriously address the matter of diet and exercise.

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