Unraveling Obesity: The Interplay of Genetics, Environment, and Lifestyle

Can genetics alone determine your battle with obesity, or is there more to the story? Join us as we crack open the complex world of obesity, unearthing the myriad factors that influence weight gain and appetite regulation. From family history to rare genetic mutations like Prader-Willi and Bardet-Biedl syndromes, we explore how your genetic makeup can predispose you to obesity, but isn't the only piece of the puzzle. Listen as we dissect how environmental influences and lifestyle choices can either exacerbate or mitigate these genetic risks, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of why some people face greater challenges with weight than others.

We also venture into the intriguing territory of epigenetics, exploring how external factors can alter gene expression, thus impacting weight and metabolic processes. Discover how mindful decisions—like a balanced diet, consistent physical activity, and effective stress management—can potentially counteract genetic predispositions. This episode aims to provide you with a comprehensive grasp of obesity's multifaceted nature, equipping you with the knowledge to make informed, empowered decisions about your health and well-being. Tune in for a conversation that promises to redefine your perspective on genetics and obesity.

Transcript

Speaker 0: 0:25

overall. Genetics is the full picture, or is it? It's not necessarily the full picture, but it definitely will give you an idea of why, for yourself, you're having some difficulties. And does it play the full role in your obesity? It does not play the full role, but it does contribute to why things are the way they are. So obesity, like I have said before, is a complex condition influenced by a combination of genetics, environment, behavior, metabolic and how our genetics are.

Speaker 0: 1:01

So initially, of course, are genetics play a role due to individuals, maybe predisposed mom, dad, grand family. Culturally there is a part in there and we'll discuss that. But genetically you're made up of a certain way. You may be known to gain more weight. Others in your family have harder time to lose it. So the genes do influence if you are going to be of a heavier weight, but that does not mean that you definitely will. But it may be that you store more fat and your appetite regulation in your body is distributed differently than other individuals. So that is part of the equation, but not all of the equation. And understanding that will help you be more available to know what health and not health is right. So that's very helpful. So in family history. Some members of your family have greater risk to having other comorbidities and that has to do with the genetics and it is influenced by family behaviors and the environment and what people are eating. Some individuals are predisposed to genetic syndromes, and genetic syndromes is something out of someone's control. So that's rare, you know, but this can also be due to some severe obesity issues prayer willies syndrome, bardot-bill syndrome and other genetic mutations that are out that will dysregulate an individual's metabolism, cushing syndrome and different ailments within the body that can cause an individual to have more overweight issues that are out of their control that they still need to modify different ways to just get them to the healthiest that it is for them.

Speaker 0: 2:54

And how does the genetics and environment play a role for someone with obesity? This comes out when you're discussing. You know your diet, your physical activity, what people around you are doing. Is there like toxicity or like environmental, like pollution, or are there different available foods for you? What is there in your environment that is not letting you become your optimal self? Is it the environment is not safe, or is it the environment doesn't have a lot of food options? Or is it the environment is just like pollutions, where they call them obesity adaptogens that cause you more genetic issues. Now we'll go into that at another lecture, but basically they also may cause you more obese issues.

Speaker 0: 3:49

And then there is another component called epigenetics. And this is called epigenetics. It refers to gene expression that is due to actual changes in the DNA and it's influencing by environmental factors. Epigenetics plays a role in obesity because it affects the genes, the metabolism and weight regulation. It may. Even those patients that are predisposed to obesity may not always have weight controls. If they make really good quality lifestyle choices, diet, physical activity and are able to manage their stressors and their genetic expression may not come out, which means that they may only go to stage one or stage two of an obesity individual and they may not actually increase their weight and they may stay at a very healthy, balanced diet, balanced self. So that is, you know, pretty helpful for an individual.