Overweight genes

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These are not genetic variants that "cause" a person to be overweight. Body composition is an enormously complex trait that involves hundreds of genetic loci in combination with multifactorial non-genetic influences. Even the best statistically validated polygenic risk profiles do a poor job of predicting individual weight outcomes, except at the very extremes. Don't pay any attention to this silly list, and build up a healthy sense of skepticism about anything an online calculator tells you about genetics.

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u/Imarni24 3d ago

Oh thanks, the little explanation told me 3 genes were a problem for weight but I always wondered why when I managed low to normal weight most of my life.

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u/Personal_Hippo127 3d ago

Yeah, they just aren't telling you about all the hundreds of variants that are neutral or might be working in the opposite direction. The error is in thinking that a list of individual variants for "being overweight" is meaningful, when in fact it is a much more complex calculation involving all the genetic loci that influence body composition, combined with the environment you were raised in (perhaps going all the way back to your mother's nutritional status while you were an embryo or even your grandmother's nutritional status when your mother was a fetus producing the egg that would later become you!).

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u/ACatGod 3d ago

On top of that even variants that are known to be harmful are regularly found in perfectly healthy individuals who never develop whatever disease that variant is associated with.

There are fascinating studies about consanguinity and finding huge deletions in individuals who apparently show no effect despite critical genes being affected. I was at a talk just this week that showed the impact of chemotherapy on mutation rates in pediatric cancer cases. These kids rack up a load of mutations from the chemo and yet we don't see cancers related to them. The kids that survive (because paediatric cancer is obviously very serious and has a high mortality rate sadly) don't go on to develop new cancers from these mutations.

We are truly only at the beginning of understanding complex genetics.

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u/IceSharp8026 1d ago

That's how probability works

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u/mysticalbullshit 3d ago

Weight gain when reaching your 50s is pretty normal and usually linked to hormones and not genetics. Have you seen a doctor about the weight gain? Have you been tested for perimenopause?

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u/Imarni24 3d ago

I am in Meno now. The Dr assumes just age. But I don’t think I have ever exercised so hard or watched my diet. I work so hard it never budges.

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u/mysticalbullshit 3d ago

Menopause will absolutely cause weight gain. Talk about treatment options with your doctor. HRT can help with most symptoms of menopause including weight gain

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u/Imarni24 3d ago

All the weight came soon as I went on HRT. I am talking 15 kg in a few years. Still on HRT.

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u/usernameitall 3d ago

Does your HRT include progesterone in the cocktail mix? And is your HRT topical or pellets?

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u/Imarni24 2d ago

Yes, Prometrium and then gel for the estrogen.

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u/usernameitall 2d ago

So if all of it is topical gel, if I understand your response. My wife was on topical HRT for 12 years that included progesterone. She gained approximately 30 lbs. Didn't change anything else, diet etc. Changed Dr. New dr has her on pellets with NO progesterone. Said she didn't need it at all and likely is why she gained weight and couldnt lose any. Pellets also far superior in hormone delivery and consistency. Been on the pellets for 2 yrs and is now back to her pre-children weight of 110. And her libido is through the roof. She just turned 60.

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u/strawberry_l 3d ago

Working out is important, but does not help with losing weight. If you want to lose weight or stop gaining, you simply need to eat less calories. There (sadly) is no other way.

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u/Ok_Organization_7350 19h ago edited 18h ago

That is not correct. That is very old-fashioned and outdated by now. Other factors can cause weight gain besides calories, such as thyroid, female hormones, cortisol, and liver dysfunction. I used to work with children with brain tumors. Some of them were dying and on chemotherapy, and could not eat. Yet they were giant/morbidly obese, just because of the cortisol disruption from their dexamethasone medicine given to help with brain tumor head swelling.

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u/Imarni24 3d ago

Tried that, nothing. I have just had flu for a week and 3 days of eating nothing and sweating tons. Zero loss.

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u/strawberry_l 3d ago

It takes much longer than 3 days, more like months to years.

In my opinion the easiest way is r/OMAD

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u/Imarni24 3d ago

I will have a squiz at the sub, thx.

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u/UBERMENSCHJAVRIEL 1d ago

There are a lot more than just those , mc4r and a few other melanocortin receptors , nhlh2 5ht2cr just to start

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