Healthy diet can offset obesity gene in kids

Eating a low energy density diet can offset the influence of a gene strongly associated with obesity in children, according to new research from University College London (UCL) and the University of Bristol.
The results indicate that if a child with a high genetic risk eats a diet with fewer calories per bite, they may be able to offset the effect of the gene on weight gain and so stay a healthy weight.
"This is an important finding because it provides evidence that it''s easier to eat too much energy and gain weight when your diet is packed tight with calories, so adopting a diet with more bulk and less energy per bite could help people avoid becoming obese regardless of their genetic risk. Obesity is not inevitable if your genes give you a higher risk because if you change the types of foods you eat this will help curb excessive weight gain,” said lead author Dr Laura Johnson, UCL Epidemiology and Public Health.
Courtesy - Zeenews