Nick Wray

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), bariatric surgery can curb alterations in patients’ brain activity, leading to improved cognitive function. This fascinating study was led by, Cintia Cercato, MD, PhD, of the University of São Paolo and provides a wealth of insights into the mental impacts of obesity, rather than the purely physical, and the role that weight loss surgery can play in alleviating these alterations. The longitudinal study looked at the effect that gastric bypass surgery in particular had on brain function. Dr. Cintia Cercato and her team examined the mental function of 17 obese women using positron emission tomography (PET) scans - a functional imaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image of processes in the body – as well as neuropsychological tests. These examinations and tests were used to assess the brain function and activity of the participants, prior to surgery and six months after the procedure. The same tests were also then performed on a control group of 16 lean women. Researchers found that the 17 obese women tended to have higher rates of metabolism in certain areas of the brain, including the region responsible for regulating emotion, meditation, and intrinsic control networks. However, following bariatric surgery, there was no evidence of this exacerbated brain activity and their brain metabolism rates were comparable to the activity seen in the leaner women. Following bypass surgery, the obese participants also performed better on a test measuring executive function than they did before the procedures. Five complimentary neuropsychological tests designed to investigate other aspects of memory and congnitive function showed little to no change following weight loss surgery. “When we studied obese women prior to bariatric surgery, we found some areas of their brains metabolized sugars at a higher rate than normal weight women,” said Dr. Cercato. “In particular, obesity led to altered activity in a part of the brain linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Since bariatric surgery reversed this activity, we suspect the procedure may contribute to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.” “Our findings suggest the brain is another organ that benefits from weight loss induced by surgery,” Cercato continued. “The increased brain activity the obese women exhibited before undergoing surgery did not result in improved cognitive performance, which suggests obesity may force the brain to work harder to achieve the same level of cognition.”

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), bariatric surgery can curb alterations in patients’ brain activity, leading to improved cognitive function. This fascinating study was led by, Cintia Cercato, MD, PhD, of the University of São Paolo and provides a wealth of insights into the mental impacts of obesity, rather than the purely physical, and the role that weight loss surgery can play in alleviating these alterations. The longitudinal study looked at the effect that gastric bypass surgery in particular had on brain function. Dr. Cintia Cercato and her team examined the mental function of 17 obese women using positron emission tomography (PET) scans - a functional imaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image of processes in the body – as well as neuropsychological tests. These examinations and tests were used to assess the brain function and activity of the participants, prior to surgery and six months after the procedure. The same tests were also then performed on a control group of 16 lean women. Researchers found that the 17 obese women tended to have higher rates of metabolism in certain areas of the brain, including the region responsible for regulating emotion, meditation, and intrinsic control networks. However, following bariatric surgery, there was no evidence of this exacerbated brain activity and their brain metabolism rates were comparable to the activity seen in the leaner women. Following bypass surgery, the obese participants also performed better on a test measuring executive function than they did before the procedures. Five complimentary neuropsychological tests designed to investigate other aspects of memory and congnitive function showed little to no change following weight loss surgery. “When we studied obese women prior to bariatric surgery, we found some areas of their brains metabolized sugars at a higher rate than normal weight women,” said Dr. Cercato. “In particular, obesity led to altered activity in a part of the brain linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Since bariatric surgery reversed this activity, we suspect the procedure may contribute to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.” “Our findings suggest the brain is another organ that benefits from weight loss induced by surgery,” Cercato continued. “The increased brain activity the obese women exhibited before undergoing surgery did not result in improved cognitive performance, which suggests obesity may force the brain to work harder to achieve the same level of cognition.”

Earlier this year an intriguing new study provided all of us working in industry with some invaluable insights into the link between depression and obesity. Conducted by Dr Aurelie M Lasserre of Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland, the study revealed that the atypical subtype of major depressive disorder is linked to greater risk of obesity; a link that’s not found in other subtypes of the illness. The Study The study was a prospective population-based cohort study that included 3,000 randomly selected Lausanne residents with a mean age of 50 years-old (53% women). At baseline, 7.5% of the 3,000 participants met the criteria for MDD, with 37% having had a previous major depressive episode. Of these, about 10% experienced atypical depression and melancholic episodes, while 14% experienced purely atypical episodes. The Findings Dr Aurelie M Lasserre and her team found that the subjects who experienced atypical episodes of MDD tended to have a higher increase in adiposity [fat] than those with MDD, and were nearly four times more likely to be obese. "For the clinician, the atypical subtype deserves particular attention, because this subtype is a strong predictor of adiposity," reported Dr. Lasserre. "Accordingly, the screening of atypical features and, in particular, increased appetite in individuals with depression is crucial." The report, published in JAMA Psychiatry came to the conclusion that atypical MDD is a strong predicator of obesity, while those with melancholic, combined, or unspecified major depressive disorder (MDD) showed no greater risk for fat-mass gain than those without any form of MDD. The researchers found no evidence for medication or physical activity affecting the link between adiposity and atypical MDD. “This study emphasises the need to identify individuals with this subtype of MDD in both clinical and research settings,” wrote Dr. Lasserre. “Therapeutic measures to diminish the consequences of increased appetite during depressive episodes with atypical features are strongly advocated.”

Earlier this year an intriguing new study provided all of us working in industry with some invaluable insights into the link between depression and obesity. Conducted by Dr Aurelie M Lasserre of Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland, the study revealed that the atypical subtype of major depressive disorder is linked to greater risk of obesity; a link that’s not found in other subtypes of the illness. The Study The study was a prospective population-based cohort study that included 3,000 randomly selected Lausanne residents with a mean age of 50 years-old (53% women). At baseline, 7.5% of the 3,000 participants met the criteria for MDD, with 37% having had a previous major depressive episode. Of these, about 10% experienced atypical depression and melancholic episodes, while 14% experienced purely atypical episodes. The Findings Dr Aurelie M Lasserre and her team found that the subjects who experienced atypical episodes of MDD tended to have a higher increase in adiposity [fat] than those with MDD, and were nearly four times more likely to be obese. "For the clinician, the atypical subtype deserves particular attention, because this subtype is a strong predictor of adiposity," reported Dr. Lasserre. "Accordingly, the screening of atypical features and, in particular, increased appetite in individuals with depression is crucial." The report, published in JAMA Psychiatry came to the conclusion that atypical MDD is a strong predicator of obesity, while those with melancholic, combined, or unspecified major depressive disorder (MDD) showed no greater risk for fat-mass gain than those without any form of MDD. The researchers found no evidence for medication or physical activity affecting the link between adiposity and atypical MDD. “This study emphasises the need to identify individuals with this subtype of MDD in both clinical and research settings,” wrote Dr. Lasserre. “Therapeutic measures to diminish the consequences of increased appetite during depressive episodes with atypical features are strongly advocated.”

The number of people in the UK living with diabetes has reached an all-time high. According to the UK Department for Health (DH) there are currently 3.2 million Britons diagnosed with the disease, with more than 90 per cent of suffers having the obesity-related Type 2 variant. However, the figures look even worse when one takes into account the more than 630,000 people in the UK estimated to be living with the condition unawares. The UK - like many nations - is failing to tackle ‘epidemic’ rates of obesity. And with this in mind, the Department of Health predicts that the percentage of people living with diabetes will jump from the current rate of 7.3 per cent to 8.8 per cent by 2030; a rise that would put the UK on par with the US, where 8.3% of the population currently lives diabetes. As part of their strategy to address this significant problem, the British Government is urging people aged between 40 and 74 to have an NHS Health Check. Early detection of diabetes is important, as it allows those living with the disease to better manage their condition, and in this regard, the program has been a huge success with more than 1.3 million patients having taken the health check so far. However, we all know that prevention is better than cure, and if the UK wants to properly address this epidemic, efforts must be made to stop people from developing the disease in the first place. Professor Kevin Fenton, director of health and well-being at Public Health England (an executive agency of the DH), said: 'With Type 2 diabetes becoming more common, the NHS Health Check presents an opportunity for individuals to take steps earlier, such as weight control, to prevent or even reverse diabetes in its early stages. 'It is important that those who are eligible take up the offer of an NHS Health Check so their risk of serious, but potentially avoidable conditions, can be assessed, and lead to early intervention. 'PHE is committed to increasing physical activity and reducing physical inactivity across England, and these aims are prominent in a number of public health campaigns.' The Stats · According to Diabetes UK there are currently 630,000 people living with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. · 90% of sufferers have the Type 2 variant. · Number of people living with diabetes in Britain has reached an all-time high. · Currently 3.2million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes.

The number of people in the UK living with diabetes has reached an all-time high. According to the UK Department for Health (DH) there are currently 3.2 million Britons diagnosed with the disease, with more than 90 per cent of suffers having the obesity-related Type 2 variant. However, the figures look even worse when one takes into account the more than 630,000 people in the UK estimated to be living with the condition unawares. The UK - like many nations - is failing to tackle ‘epidemic’ rates of obesity. And with this in mind, the Department of Health predicts that the percentage of people living with diabetes will jump from the current rate of 7.3 per cent to 8.8 per cent by 2030; a rise that would put the UK on par with the US, where 8.3% of the population currently lives diabetes. As part of their strategy to address this significant problem, the British Government is urging people aged between 40 and 74 to have an NHS Health Check. Early detection of diabetes is important, as it allows those living with the disease to better manage their condition, and in this regard, the program has been a huge success with more than 1.3 million patients having taken the health check so far. However, we all know that prevention is better than cure, and if the UK wants to properly address this epidemic, efforts must be made to stop people from developing the disease in the first place. Professor Kevin Fenton, director of health and well-being at Public Health England (an executive agency of the DH), said: 'With Type 2 diabetes becoming more common, the NHS Health Check presents an opportunity for individuals to take steps earlier, such as weight control, to prevent or even reverse diabetes in its early stages. 'It is important that those who are eligible take up the offer of an NHS Health Check so their risk of serious, but potentially avoidable conditions, can be assessed, and lead to early intervention. 'PHE is committed to increasing physical activity and reducing physical inactivity across England, and these aims are prominent in a number of public health campaigns.' The Stats · According to Diabetes UK there are currently 630,000 people living with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. · 90% of sufferers have the Type 2 variant. · Number of people living with diabetes in Britain has reached an all-time high. · Currently 3.2million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes.

As a dietician working in a bariatric clinic I meet a lot of patients who over eat. This is far from surprising. However, what never fails to astound me is how many of these very same people are malnourished. It’s easy for the general public to make the connection between malnutrition and starvation in the developing world, but when it comes to overweight Westerners being malnourished it’s a different story. In the developed world, where obesity has reached epidemic proportions, we are seeing more and more people who are overweight or obese being diagnosed with malnutrition because they consume too much of the wrong foods; foods with little to no nutritional value that are low in protein, vitamins and minerals. To understand this contradictory situation you must understand the different types of nutrients and how vital they are. This is one of the main reasons why so many Westerners are plagued by chronic diseases. According to Joanne Slavin, a nutrition professor at the University of Minnesota, the main culprit of malnutrition is usually poor protein. “If you don’t get enough protein, you might still get enough calories without getting enough nutrients,” says Slavin. In my experience the main “shortfall” nutrients tend to be calcium, fiber, potassium and vitamin D. Many overweight individuals have packed on extra weight over the years because they have poor diets that are typically high in refined foods. These highly refined foods are high in unhealthy fats and sugars and low in the aforementioned nutrients. In this age of calorie counting, it’s important to consider all aspects of your diet. But let me tell you, calorie content is not the be all and end all. A calorie from a Mars bar is the same as a calorie from an Apple when it comes to energy exchange, however, an apple is much richer in vitamins and minerals. As US based nutritional consultant, Carol Cottrill, points out “when we eat the empty calories found in processed foods instead of wholesome, real food, our appetite is curbed temporarily, and our stomachs feel full, though our bodies have not taken in the nutrients they crave. This is the setup for what's known as subclinical malnutrition. Not to be confused with the undernourishment experienced in famine-stricken countries.” To keep our body healthy, we must fuel it with the necessary ingredients that can only come from a healthy, well-balanced diet. When we don't get nutrients, our internal functions don't work as well - and this is when we become vulnerable to diseases such as obesity. Image Credit: Melissa Gruntkosky

As a dietician working in a bariatric clinic I meet a lot of patients who over eat. This is far from surprising. However, what never fails to astound me is how many of these very same people are malnourished. It’s easy for the general public to make the connection between malnutrition and starvation in the developing world, but when it comes to overweight Westerners being malnourished it’s a different story. In the developed world, where obesity has reached epidemic proportions, we are seeing more and more people who are overweight or obese being diagnosed with malnutrition because they consume too much of the wrong foods; foods with little to no nutritional value that are low in protein, vitamins and minerals. To understand this contradictory situation you must understand the different types of nutrients and how vital they are. This is one of the main reasons why so many Westerners are plagued by chronic diseases. According to Joanne Slavin, a nutrition professor at the University of Minnesota, the main culprit of malnutrition is usually poor protein. “If you don’t get enough protein, you might still get enough calories without getting enough nutrients,” says Slavin. In my experience the main “shortfall” nutrients tend to be calcium, fiber, potassium and vitamin D. Many overweight individuals have packed on extra weight over the years because they have poor diets that are typically high in refined foods. These highly refined foods are high in unhealthy fats and sugars and low in the aforementioned nutrients. In this age of calorie counting, it’s important to consider all aspects of your diet. But let me tell you, calorie content is not the be all and end all. A calorie from a Mars bar is the same as a calorie from an Apple when it comes to energy exchange, however, an apple is much richer in vitamins and minerals. As US based nutritional consultant, Carol Cottrill, points out “when we eat the empty calories found in processed foods instead of wholesome, real food, our appetite is curbed temporarily, and our stomachs feel full, though our bodies have not taken in the nutrients they crave. This is the setup for what's known as subclinical malnutrition. Not to be confused with the undernourishment experienced in famine-stricken countries.” To keep our body healthy, we must fuel it with the necessary ingredients that can only come from a healthy, well-balanced diet. When we don't get nutrients, our internal functions don't work as well - and this is when we become vulnerable to diseases such as obesity. Image Credit: Melissa Gruntkosky

Following on from my previous article for Bariatric Pal, Obesity: Its A Global Problem, I thought I’d write about another recent report about the obesity epidemic. This particular report looks at the problem from a European perspective and comes from the World Health Organisation. According to the report presented at the EuroPRevent congress in Amsterdam by Dr Laura Webber from the UK Health Forum, rates of obesity and overweight are projected to increase in almost all European countries by 2030. However, as one would expect, growth rates vary significantly from country to country. In total 53 European nations were put under the microscope, and in almost all countries the proportion of overweight and obese citizens was projected to increase over the next 20 years. "Our study presents a worrying picture of rising obesity across Europe. Policies to reverse this trend are urgently needed," Dr Webber said. Her concerns are founded on a statistical modelling study which brought together a wide berth of data on body mass index (BMI) and obesity trends within all 53 countries. Definitions were based on the WHO's standard cut offs -- healthy weight (BMI ≤24.99 kg/m²), overweight and obesity combined (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) and obesity (≥30 kg/m²). Dr Laura Webber believes governments should be doing more to restrict unhealthy food marketing and is calling for a tax on soft drinks and subsidies for fruit and vegetables. “The UK and Ireland, where obesity prevalence is among the highest, possess unregulated liberal market economies similar to the US, where the collective actions of big multinational food companies to maximise profit encourages over-consumption... We need to make healthier food more affordable and less healthy food less so, by using taxes on sugary drinks for example and subsidies on fruit and vegetables." The Worst Performers: the proportional increase of overweight and obesity in males by 2030 -Ireland [90%] -Czech Republic [80%] -Spain [80%] -Poland [80%] -United Kingdom [75%] The Best Performers -Belgium [44%] -Netherlands [47%]

According to the report presented at the EuroPRevent congress in Amsterdam by Dr Laura Webber from the UK Health Forum, rates of obesity and overweight are projected to increase in almost all European countries by 2030. However, as one would expect, growth rates vary significantly from country to country. In total 53 European nations were put under the microscope, and in almost all countries the proportion of overweight and obese citizens was projected to increase over the next 20 years. "Our study presents a worrying picture of rising obesity across Europe. Policies to reverse this trend are urgently needed," Dr Webber said. Her concerns are founded on a statistical modelling study which brought together a wide berth of data on body mass index (BMI) and obesity trends within all 53 countries. Definitions were based on the WHO's standard cut offs -- healthy weight (BMI ≤24.99 kg/m²), overweight and obesity combined (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) and obesity (≥30 kg/m²). Dr Laura Webber believes governments should be doing more to restrict unhealthy food marketing and is calling for a tax on soft drinks and subsidies for fruit and vegetables. “The UK and Ireland, where obesity prevalence is among the highest, possess unregulated liberal market economies similar to the US, where the collective actions of big multinational food companies to maximise profit encourages over-consumption... We need to make healthier food more affordable and less healthy food less so, by using taxes on sugary drinks for example and subsidies on fruit and vegetables." The Worst Performers: the proportional increase of overweight and obesity in males by 2030 -Ireland [90%] -Czech Republic [80%] -Spain [80%] -Poland [80%] -United Kingdom [75%] The Best Performers -Belgium [44%] -Netherlands [47%]

A recent study published in The Lancet highlights just how obese the world has become. The study entitled, 'Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980—2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013, claims that over the past thirty years the number of overweight and obese people worldwide has tripled from 857 million to 2.1 billion. Meaning that across the globe, nearly 1 out of every 3 people is currently overweight or obese. Researchers examined data from 183 countries and found that over the past three decades not one single country has achieved success in reducing obesity rates. The heaviest country was unsurprisingly the United States, which accounts for approximately 13 per cent of the world’s obese people, followed by China and India, which together represent 15 per cent. The study also found that more than 50 per cent of the world's 600 plus million obese people live in only ten countries: the United States, China, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Germany, Pakistan and Indonesia. The results prove that obesity is now a major public health problem across both the developed and the developing world. As health professionals know all too well, obesity puts people at increased risk of diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease and cancer, among many other things. And according to the researchers who led the study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle, being overweight is estimated to cause 3.4 million deaths worldwide each year. Other Key Findings from the Report -Across the globe prevalence of obesity and being overweight rose by 28 per cent for adults, and 47 percent for children from 1980 and 2013. -Over the past three decades the largest increase in obesity rates for women were in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Honduras and Bahrain. -Over the past three decades the largest increase in obesity rates for men were in New Zealand, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United States. -In Kuwait, Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Libya, Qatar and Samoa more than 50 per cent of the women are obese. -In Tonga, more than half the population are obese. -Rates of overweight and obese children worldwide rose by nearly 50 per cent between 1980 and 2013. -In the developed world the highest increases in adult obesity were in the US (where approximately a third of the adult population are obese), Australia (29 per cent), and the UK (25 per cent).

A recent study published in The Lancet highlights just how obese the world has become. The study entitled, 'Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980—2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013, claims that over the past thirty years the number of overweight and obese people worldwide has tripled from 857 million to 2.1 billion. Meaning that across the globe, nearly 1 out of every 3 people is currently overweight or obese. Researchers examined data from 183 countries and found that over the past three decades not one single country has achieved success in reducing obesity rates. The heaviest country was unsurprisingly the United States, which accounts for approximately 13 per cent of the world’s obese people, followed by China and India, which together represent 15 per cent. The study also found that more than 50 per cent of the world's 600 plus million obese people live in only ten countries: the United States, China, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Germany, Pakistan and Indonesia. The results prove that obesity is now a major public health problem across both the developed and the developing world. As health professionals know all too well, obesity puts people at increased risk of diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease and cancer, among many other things. And according to the researchers who led the study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle, being overweight is estimated to cause 3.4 million deaths worldwide each year. Other Key Findings from the Report -Across the globe prevalence of obesity and being overweight rose by 28 per cent for adults, and 47 percent for children from 1980 and 2013. -Over the past three decades the largest increase in obesity rates for women were in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Honduras and Bahrain. -Over the past three decades the largest increase in obesity rates for men were in New Zealand, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United States. -In Kuwait, Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Libya, Qatar and Samoa more than 50 per cent of the women are obese. -In Tonga, more than half the population are obese. -Rates of overweight and obese children worldwide rose by nearly 50 per cent between 1980 and 2013. -In the developed world the highest increases in adult obesity were in the US (where approximately a third of the adult population are obese), Australia (29 per cent), and the UK (25 per cent).

As a dietitian I often find myself instructing patients to lower their intake of carbohydrates, in fact I’ve said it so many times, and to so many patients, that at times I feel like a broken record. Previous genetic studies into obesity have tended to focus on how genetic variations alter our appetites and food behaviours. However, a new study recently published in Nature Genetics piqued my interest as it suggests that there may in fact be a rather novel genetic link between metabolism and obesity. The study authored by Dr. Mario Falchi from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London investigated the relationship between obesity and a gene called AMY1, the gene responsible for an enzyme present in our saliva known as salivary amylase, the enzyme first encountered by food when it enters the mouth that begins the process of starch digestion. "We are now starting to develop a clearer picture of a combination of genetic factors affecting psychological and metabolic processes that contribute to people's chances of becoming obese. This should ultimately help us to find better ways of tackling obesity," Dr. Mario Falchi says. The number of copies of a gene that a person carries can vary throughout their DNA, although people usually have two copies of each gene. Yet, Dr. Mario Falchi and his team found that the number of copies of this particular AMY1 gene can vary greatly between people. The researchers examined the number of copies of AMY1 present in the DNA of more than 6,000 people from four different countries: the UK, France, Sweden and Singapore. And according to their results, it is those who have a lower number of AMY1 who are most likely to become obese. They determined that AMY1 was the gene that had the greatest influence on body weight and then counted the number of times the gene was repeated in each individual and how this affected their obesity risk. The chance of being obese for people with less than four copies of the AMY1 gene was approximately eight times higher than in those with more than nine copies of this gene. The researchers estimated that with every additional copy of the salivary amylase gene there was approximately a 20 per cent decrease in the odds of becoming obese. This new discovery highlights a strong link between metabolism and obesity and suggests that goes someway to proving that our bodies react differently to the same type and amount of food, leading to weight gain in some but not in others. How we deal with carbohydrates and hence, how much carbohydrate we should be consuming, must be adjusted for each individual. This research indicates genetics may play a role in obesity, and carbohydrate metabolism is very much involved.

As a dietitian I often find myself instructing patients to lower their intake of carbohydrates, in fact I’ve said it so many times, and to so many patients, that at times I feel like a broken record. Previous genetic studies into obesity have tended to focus on how genetic variations alter our appetites and food behaviours. However, a new study recently published in Nature Genetics piqued my interest as it suggests that there may in fact be a rather novel genetic link between metabolism and obesity. The study authored by Dr. Mario Falchi from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London investigated the relationship between obesity and a gene called AMY1, the gene responsible for an enzyme present in our saliva known as salivary amylase, the enzyme first encountered by food when it enters the mouth that begins the process of starch digestion. "We are now starting to develop a clearer picture of a combination of genetic factors affecting psychological and metabolic processes that contribute to people's chances of becoming obese. This should ultimately help us to find better ways of tackling obesity," Dr. Mario Falchi says. The number of copies of a gene that a person carries can vary throughout their DNA, although people usually have two copies of each gene. Yet, Dr. Mario Falchi and his team found that the number of copies of this particular AMY1 gene can vary greatly between people. The researchers examined the number of copies of AMY1 present in the DNA of more than 6,000 people from four different countries: the UK, France, Sweden and Singapore. And according to their results, it is those who have a lower number of AMY1 who are most likely to become obese. They determined that AMY1 was the gene that had the greatest influence on body weight and then counted the number of times the gene was repeated in each individual and how this affected their obesity risk. The chance of being obese for people with less than four copies of the AMY1 gene was approximately eight times higher than in those with more than nine copies of this gene. The researchers estimated that with every additional copy of the salivary amylase gene there was approximately a 20 per cent decrease in the odds of becoming obese. This new discovery highlights a strong link between metabolism and obesity and suggests that goes someway to proving that our bodies react differently to the same type and amount of food, leading to weight gain in some but not in others. How we deal with carbohydrates and hence, how much carbohydrate we should be consuming, must be adjusted for each individual. This research indicates genetics may play a role in obesity, and carbohydrate metabolism is very much involved.