to survive during periodsofunder-
nutrition and increase ourabilityto
reproduce – genetic survival.”
Today, the thinking goes,thisin-
ability to lose weight isourbody
defending against periodsofunder-
nutrition, even though thosearenow
much rarer.
But not all researchersagreewith
this so-called ‘thrifty gene’hypoth-
esis. As epigeneticist JohnSpeak-
man wrote in a 2013 AnnualReview
of Nutrition analysis, oneissuewith
the hypothesis is that noteverybody
in modern society is overweight.
And, Professor Rosenbaumadds,
“The evolution of our geneticpredis-
position to store fat is complex.Itin-
volves a frequently changingenviron-
ment, interactions of specificgenes
with that environment, andevenin-
teractions between genes.”Thisinter-
play of factors is still a mystery.8
A SLOWER
METABOLISM
DOESN’T MEAN
KEEPING WEIGHT OFF
IS FUTILE
In trials,“15percentofpeople,onav-
erage,managetolosetenpercentof
theirweightormoreandkeepit off,”ProfessorRosenbaumsays.Soweight
lossispossible.
Foranywould-be weightloser,
hesaysthekeyisfindinglifestyle
changesyoucansticktoovera long
periodoftime.
HepointstotheNationalWeight
ControlRegistry,astudythathas
analysedthe traits,habits and
behavioursofadultswhohavelost
atleast 13 kilogramsandkeptitoff
fora minimumofoneyear– asan
exampleofhowtheydothat.The
peoplewhohavehadsuccessinlos-
ingweighthavea fewthingsincom-
mon:theyweighthemselvesatleast
oncea week.Theyexerciseregularly
atvaryingdegreesofintensity,with
themostcommonexercisebeing
walking.Theyrestricttheirkilojoule
intake,stayawayfromhigh-fatfoods
andwatchtheirportionsizes.They
alsotendtoeatbreakfast.
Butthere’sa tonneofdiversityasto
whatmakesuptheirmeals.(Sothere
isno‘best’dietorfaddietthatdidthe
trick.)Andtheycountkilojoules.
“Theymadehugechangestotheir
dietandexerciseplanstokeepit off,”
hesays.“It’shard.”
©2018,JULIABELLUZ.FROMVOX
(SEPTEMBER4,2018),VOX.COMMarriageSaviour
To the great reliefofanerranthusband,Birminghampolicedog
Odin was able to sniffouta missingweddingringafteritsowner
had tossed it awayfollowinga rowwithhiswife.SKYNEWS71
Eight Truths About How We Burn Kilojoules