Why am I overweight? Part 2: Genetics
It's official now. According to the 23 and Me test results I am genetically predisposed to weigh more than average. This was no surprise. It tends to run in my family. I've seen members of my family struggling against the weight gain my entire life. Considering how hard I have fought for every pound I've lost, it makes sense that my genes could be to blame.
So what does this mean? It would be so easy to throw up my hands at this point and say, "It's just fate. I might as well just resign myself to being overweight forever." But giving up is not the answer. I cannot let my genetics define me.
I have on my bookshelf some old family photos that I inherited. Most of them come from the late 1930s and early 1940s. The oldest dates back 100 years. As I look at the faces of my family at that time, one thing I notice is that they do not look overweight. We share many of the same genes, possibly the gene that predisposes us to be overweight, but they are a healthy weight. This is consistent with trends in the general population over the past 100 years. For example, according to one article I found (click here for more information), from 1971-1975, 16% of the average population was obese. However, from 1988-1994, 30% of the average population was obese. According to the CDC, from 2015-2016, the obesity rate was 39.8%. Our genetics haven't changed, but we have.
So what does this mean for us today? It means that it is possible to obtain and maintain a normal weight even if you are genetically predisposed to be overweight. It also means that some of us might need to fight a little harder to make this happen. I choose to use this information to help guide me in my weight loss journey. I may need to be a little stricter with myself than some other people and maybe workout a little more. It will be a long hard fight, but I can still win.
P.S. My 23 and me results also said, "Your genetic muscle composition is common in elite power athletes." I need to start working on that.
So what does this mean? It would be so easy to throw up my hands at this point and say, "It's just fate. I might as well just resign myself to being overweight forever." But giving up is not the answer. I cannot let my genetics define me.
I have on my bookshelf some old family photos that I inherited. Most of them come from the late 1930s and early 1940s. The oldest dates back 100 years. As I look at the faces of my family at that time, one thing I notice is that they do not look overweight. We share many of the same genes, possibly the gene that predisposes us to be overweight, but they are a healthy weight. This is consistent with trends in the general population over the past 100 years. For example, according to one article I found (click here for more information), from 1971-1975, 16% of the average population was obese. However, from 1988-1994, 30% of the average population was obese. According to the CDC, from 2015-2016, the obesity rate was 39.8%. Our genetics haven't changed, but we have.
So what does this mean for us today? It means that it is possible to obtain and maintain a normal weight even if you are genetically predisposed to be overweight. It also means that some of us might need to fight a little harder to make this happen. I choose to use this information to help guide me in my weight loss journey. I may need to be a little stricter with myself than some other people and maybe workout a little more. It will be a long hard fight, but I can still win.
P.S. My 23 and me results also said, "Your genetic muscle composition is common in elite power athletes." I need to start working on that.
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