It's not your genes making you fat, it's your gut bacteria!

[Suzanne]

At least, that's what this study indicates: http://healthland.time.com/2013/03/27/can-you-smell-obesity/.

The researchers are thinking of using antibiotics to kill the bacteria that scavenge hydrogen so successfully and in the process make their hosts fat. To me it would seem simpler to starve the bugs out by altering the host's diet to limit the foods highest in hydrogen: refined carbohydrates...but then nobody would make a great name or a great deal of money...they're not even mentioning the phrase "antibiotic-resistance"!

[pinkytoe]

I am wondering if the massive amount of antibiotics we already ingest have something to do with this in the first place.

[JaneV2.0]

There are probably all kinds of maladies resulting from disordered guts. Auto-immune diseases come to mind.

[redfox]

As someone who has struggled with weight all my adult life, I have read scores of studies, seen documentaries, etc. I've come to the conclusion that, like most medical & physiological characteristics, weight and body morphology is likely a complex weave of genetics, environmental influences, emotions, education, etc.

Health At Every Size is a body of work I really like. http://www.haescommunity.org/

I am currently at an internist office, waiting for my pre-surgery physical. I am 5'8" tall and 200 pounds. I count that as 25-50 overweight, and yet all my health indicators are in the best & least risk ranges; blood pressure, glucose, pulse, respiration, oxygen sats, etc. etc. This has been true for years. My knees are what's impacted by being overweight. I've gained & lost this weight multiple times, ranging from 150-200, just like my Mom.

It's complicated!

[JaneV2.0]

As someone who has struggled with weight all my adult life, I have read scores of studies, seen documentaries, etc. I've come to the conclusion that, like most medical & physiological characteristics, weight and body morphology is likely a complex weave of genetics, environmental influences, emotions, education, etc.

Health At Every Size is a body of work I really like. http://www.haescommunity.org/

I think HAES principles should be part of health/fitness programs everywhere. It's a rational alternative to beating people over the head for being unwilling and/or unable to change their natural body type to fit fashion standards.

[Suzanne]

I also really like HAES. There are people who are healthy and scrawny, healthy and slender, healthy and fat, healthy and obese. Let's concentrate on health and happiness and let body size go by the board!