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86 / Health Issues Caused by Obesity
hereditary
. Does this mean that those with a susceptible biological predis-
position are destined to a life of obesity and its health effects? Not necessar-
ily. No, we can’t change our genes, and many people will never be able to
achieve their desired thinness no matter how much they try. But as you’ve
learned throughout this book, losing even 5 to 10 percent of total body mass
can result in health benefits even if ideal weight remains elusive. Even if we
can’t give ourselves “thin genes,” we can alter our behavior and make health-
improving changes to our weight.
The discovery that being overweight and obese can be genetic has both
positive and negative psychological
repercussions
. For those who gen-
uinely carry the so-called “fat gene,” it’s a relief to realize they’re not solely
responsible for their condition. That’s a positive. For those whose weight
issues are not genetic, however, blaming biology can confuse the issue and
allow people to deny the reality of their health situations. That’s a negative.
Regardless, recognizing that obesity may be due to a genetically determined
metabolic
condition (rather than character flaws) is important for those
affected and for society as a whole.
Recent
neurochemical
research has also shown a physiological link
between obesity and depression. It seems that we aren’t just depressed
because of society’s reactions to and our own feelings about our bodies after
all. Rather, the same chemical imbalances that usually trigger long-term