The Headline:
The Daily Telegraph reported today on a "greedy gene" that causes some children to eat 100 extra calories at every meal. It said scientists had discovered that the gene appears to make the children avoid healthy meal options and eat fatty and sugary foods. The effect could be greater in adults, with those carrying it eating up to 15% more at mealtimes.
NHS Choices says that:
This reliable study has shown that children carrying the A allele ate more energy-dense foods than the children who were not carrying the A allele, indicating a preference for energy-dense foods. However, as this was a small study, more research is required to confirm these observations.
In addition, the researchers were unable to examine the effect of being homozygous for the A allele (having two copies of the variant) as compared to being heterozygous (having only one) and this will be an important part of future research.
This research does not argue for a single cause for obesity, as the headline might suggest. Instead, its main purpose was to help researchers to understand the complex interactions between people’s genes and their environment.
Similar research might eventually also provide an explanation as to why it is difficult for some individuals to use willpower to change their behaviour.
Links to the Headlines:
Gene 'triggers unhealthy eating'. BBC News, December 11 2008
'Greedy gene' causes people to eat 100 extra calories at every meal. The Daily Telegraph, December 11 2008
Links to the Science:
Cecil JE, Tavendale R, Watt P, et al. An Obesity-Associated FTO Gene Variant and Increased Energy Intake in Children. NEJM 2008; 359:2558-2566
