hereditary obesity? Genetic predisposition is not an oracle

In connection with the World Day Against Obesity celebrated on March 4, our interlocutor is Celina Całka-Kinicka, a clinical nutritionist with many years of experience. Works at CMD Damiana, uPlekarzy and celcal nutritionist, mainly with patients with obesity and comorbidities.

Alexandra Zalevskaya-Stankevich: In colloquial speech, the term “prone to fullness” or “prone to snacking” is used. Are these words reflected in science?

Selina Kalka-Kinicka: In a sense, yes, especially if we were obese as children. And an even greater risk of proliferation of adipose tissue exists if a teenager has extra pounds during puberty. Then we are talking about hyperplastic obesity, when not only the size of the tissue increases, but above all, more fat cells are formed. Even if the child loses weight, the size of fat cells will indeed decrease, but their number will remain the same. It will be much easier for such a person to gain weight in the future compared to people who had a normal weight in childhood.

So, if our child has extra pounds, is there a risk that he will struggle with extra pounds, for example, after forty years?

Yes, the number of fat cells is formed in childhood - mainly at the age of 2-3 years - and remains unchanged in adulthood. That is why it is so important not to overfeed young children, because in the future they risk gaining excess weight and obesity. The next stage in a person’s life when body fat increases is between the ages of 9 and 11 and the puberty period mentioned above. At this time, the parent should be especially attentive to whether the child has a normal body weight. Unfortunately, many adults find it difficult to lose weight because they struggle with childhood obesity. In such a situation, it is very difficult to lose weight, because we are not able to reduce the volume of already existing cells. Sometimes bariatric surgery is the only option.

Suppose an obese woman, let’s call her Kasia, had an overweight mother. What is the probability that Kasia’s daughter will also be obese?

There is no single gene that determines obesity. Obesity is always the result of many factors. Although there is a FTO gene that gives us the greatest predisposition to obesity, the predisposition to this gene is only 1 percent. So the FTO can only indicate a tendency to gain weight, but does not determine anything. Kasia’s daughter may not be obese because she has inherited the trait, but rather because she adopts her mother’s eating habits and preferences.

In such a situation, the excuse “I’m fat because I got it from my grandmother” is not justified.

Exactly. It’s a convenient excuse: “I’m fat because it’s genetics.” Even if you have the FTO gene, it only makes you slightly more likely to be obese. Responsibility cannot be placed on external factors. Environmental factors such as low physical activity, smoking, or too little sleep determine whether a given gene will perform its function at 99 percent. Genetic predisposition is not an oracle.

Obesity is not always associated with overeating. And it’s not just about appearance, but increasingly as a result of illness. How aware are we as a society?

I think that most of us still view obesity only in terms of aesthetics. And this is a disease. In medicine, obesity is classified as a disease under the number E66. However, even obese patients have difficulty accepting this fact. They change their minds only when extra pounds start to interfere with their daily activities. When they can’t make it to the bus, they take the stairs to the first floor because their joints are too busy. Sometimes abnormal blood results are the motivation to change your lifestyle.

What are the consequences of obesity?

First of all, this is Syndrome X, i.e. a collection of metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, hyperglycemia, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, elevated uric acid levels, and blood clotting disorders. In addition, there may be problems with the skin, hair, hormonal disorders and excessive stress on the joints. Obesity increases the likelihood of type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cancer, such as colon cancer, and disability.

31% of boys and 20% of girls are overweight. There are fewer obese children, but still many. During balances, doctors grab their heads.

13% of people are obese. boys and 5 percent. girls - such a dish was established by the National Health Foundation based on a report on the dangers of sugar. This, for example, associated with a sedentary lifestyle. During the pandemic, children stopped moving even more. In addition, a big problem is the excessive intake of sugar and processed foods. I have no doubt that obese children need support because they are more likely to experience psychological problems or mental disorders than their thin peers. Overweight people often have low self-esteem, are prone to rejection and rejection. That is why prevention is so important to prevent the development of obesity.

Every second adult is overweight by several kilograms. It is predicted that 30 percent of Poles will become obese within five years. How to prevent it?

The basis is a balanced diet and regular meals. We are victims of remote work that forces us to sit. Eating high-calorie snacks and drinks high in sugar has become the norm. All this does not contribute to maintaining the desired weight and slim figure. If we do not change our diet and start moving, we will gain extra pounds. To avoid this, we must mobilize ourselves to be active. Let’s start with small steps, with a 15-minute walk. Before putting a product in the shopping cart, let’s consider whether it is useful. May this reflection accompany us every day, not just on World Obesity Day.