Did you know dietary restraint reduces effects of genetic risk of obesity? Study finds

England [UK] : Obesity risk genes cause people to feel hungrier and lose control of their eating, although practising dietary constraints may help to reverse this, according to new research.

Research from the University of Exeter, Exeter Clinical Research Facility, and the University of Bristol, funded by the Medical Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership and published in the International Journal of Epidemiology has discovered that those with a higher genetic risk of obesity can reduce the effects transmitted through hunger and uncontrolled eating by up to half by exercising restraint. The paper is entitled “Mediation and moderation of genetic risk to obesity through eating behaviours in two UK cohorts” and is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Psychology PhD student, Shahina Begum, from the University of Exeter is lead author and said: “At a time when high-calorie foods are aggressively marketed to us, it’s more important than ever to understand how genes influence BMI. We already know that these genes impact traits and behaviours such as hunger and emotional eating, but what makes this study different is that we tested the influence of two types of dietary restraint — rigid and flexible — on the effect of these behaviours. What we discovered for the first time was that increasing both types of restraint could potentially improve BMI in people genetically at risk; meaning that restraint-based interventions could be useful to target the problem.”

Genes linked to obesity increase BMI, with up to a quarter of this effect explained by increases in hunger and uncontrolled (including emotional) eating. There are over 900 genes that have so far been identified by researchers as being associated with BMI and several studies suggest these risk genes influence feelings of hunger and loss of control towards food.

This study examined 3,780 adults aged between 22 and 92 years old from two UK cohorts: the Genetics of Appetite Study, and Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Their weight and height were measured, and they provided a DNA sample via their blood to calculate an overall score for their genetic risk of obesity. They then completed questionnaires to measure 13 different eating behaviours, including disinhibition (a tendency to engage in binge or emotional eating) and over-eating due to hunger.

As expected, researchers found that a higher genetic risk score was associated with a higher BMI, partly due to increased disinhibition and hunger. However, results also found that those who had high levels of dietary restraint reduced those effects by almost half for disinhibition and a third for hunger — suggesting that restraint may counteract some of the effects of genetic risk.

There are different types of dietary restraint, including flexible strategies — such as being conscious about what you eat and deliberately taking small servings — to rigid strategies, like calorie counting. The study tested the influence of both types of restraint for the first time and found both could potentially improve BMI in people genetically at risk.

Admin

Recent Posts

Aries 2025 Horoscope: A Year of Growth and Transformation

Aries (March 21 – April 19): The year 2025 promises significant growth and transformation for…

8 minutes ago

No GST on Sale of Old Cars Between Individuals, Clarifies Sources

GST applies only to registered businesses selling used vehicles, with an 18% tax on the…

13 minutes ago

Gemini 2025 Horoscope: A Year of Opportunities and Personal Evolution

Gemini (May 21 – June 20): The year 2025 brings a mix of excitement and…

9 hours ago

Which Tata Altroz Colour Matches Your Personality? A Guide to Standout Choices

From bold Downtown Red to sophisticated Opera Blue, Tata Altroz offers a diverse palette to…

9 hours ago

Indian Economy Shows Signs of Recovery in Q3 FY2024-25: RBI Report

Boosted by festive demand and rural upswing, India's economy is regaining momentum after a slowdown…

9 hours ago

India’s Forex Reserves Strong Enough to Cover 11 Months of Imports, Says RBI

With reserves at $652.9 billion, India's forex buffer remains robust, ensuring stability amid global economic…

9 hours ago