Your genes influence your appetite, satiety (feelings of fullness) and food cravings. Research suggests that carriers of a particular version of the FTO gene are biologically hardwired to eat more, feel hungrier sooner and be more responsive to fatty foods.
Source: 1000 Genome Project. Global averages for both sexes
Among recently identified obesity-susceptibility genes, there is one gene that has a particularly strong association: FTO. For this reason, the FTO gene is often dubbed 'the obesity gene'.
If you carry just one copy of the A allele, you are 1.3 times more likely to be obese. If you carry two A alleles, you are roughly 1.6 times more likely to be obese.
In one meta-analysis on over 38,000 people, the 16% of people with the AA genotype weighed 3kg more versus those without the risk allele. The A risk allele has been associated with obesity in multiple different backgrounds, including Caucasian, African American, Mexican, Japanese, Scandinavian, and Han Chinese.
Use our Plan Advisor to determine which genetically tailored diet and exercise program best fits your needs.
Find out
Sign up to receive our FREE newsletter and emails featuring articles on genetics, exercise, nutrition, customer success stories, new product information and promotional offers. We’ll also send you a copy of our Get Fit eBook.
