To think it's possible that being overweight could be genetic?

[hooliodancer]

In the last few years I have started to look more and more like my late mum, to the point that I now look in the mirror and see her in my clothes, which is a bit disconcerting.

My body shape has changed radically since perimenopause started. I am now exactly the same shape and size as she was at my age.

The thing is, I exercise like a bastard (4 or 5 times a week), do Pilates, eat healthily 90% of the time, walk when I can. She ate quite badly (1970's diet if you see what I mean plus loads of chocolate bars) drove everywhere and went to one exercise class in her life (keep fit at the village hall in 1977 .She hated it.)

But at the same age we look exactly the same despite totally different lifestyles.

I have struggled with my weight (as she did) all my life. At key weight putting on times (puberty, giving up smoking , now menopause) my body seems to grab all the weight it can!

It makes me want to give up this constant struggle and just accept what I look like now. Despite all the exercise and the seeds and nuts and avocados I'm still a short fat person.

It feels like my body WANTS to be a size 14. I was size 10 until 4 years ago and I haven't changed what I eat or my exercise regime.

Is it all down to genetics?

What a charmer you are, RiversDisguise.

It is lifestyle/modern life.
40 year’s ago, the big treat was a Saturday morning visit to the corner shop for a small bag of sweets or a bag of crisps.
Now people eat snacks constantly.
An average woman 5ft 4 around 9 stone needs 1500-1800 calories to maintain weight.
Breakfast toast/ butter 2 slices 300 Calories
Milky coffee 100 Calories

Mid morning milky coffee 100 Calories
2 biscuits 200 Calories

Lunch Sandwich from shop 350 Calories
Bag of crisps 200 Calories
Smoothie (looks healthy) 300 Calories

Get home...,starving....
Dinner
Curry with rice & a popadom 800 Calories
Glass of wine, 200 Calories.

So an average day over 2000 Calories

This is why the weight goes on.

I think genetics probably has some effect on senses and preferences, and those would affect how much and what people eat, and therefore their weight.

For instance, I tolerate cold really well, none of my Dad's side of the family are bothered by the cold. It's not that I'm magically immune to the cold, it's just that when other people are wrapping up and shivering I don't feel uncomfortable being cold. In a similar way that some people can't tolerate cold, I'm sure some people are less able to tolerate the discomfort of being hungry.

There are also food preferences, for instance my Mum doesn't really like carbs. She has a small appetite and she finds that they fill her up too much. So she would naturally eat less volume than me, and have less of a blood glucose surge followed by a drop. But I couldn't eat her diet indefinitely as she likes very rich things that I can only digest in small quantities, like cream and pate. People who don't have a sweet tooth and don't like carbs have a huge advantage in keeping their weight stable (although it might be a disadvantage for other health conditions).

This thread is very funny in that it's almost as if no studies have ever been done on the genetic and environmental components of obesity.

Skim-read the thread.

Key influences on your weight/size are (in no particular order):

1. calories in vs calories out
2. type of calories in vs calories out (i.e. 200 cal of protein or of carbs)
3. exercise status
4. gut bacteria (influenced by your mother, your education and your general diet)
5. epigenetics (poss linked to above)
6. whether you have been overweight before - there is evidence to show that a person who's never been more than a size 12 can eat more and stay the same size compared with a person who used to be size 16 but is now size 12. The body wants to reclaim those dizzying heights, unfortunately
7. general metabolic state (menopause/thyroid etc)

I tell you, it's Byzantine!

I just ordered some dance clothing for my ballroom/latin class. Fair enough I guess most people who dance regularly will be slim, but the largest size was 14, and the leggings only went up to a 12 so I didn't bother with those. I should fit into the 14s, and I know they are selling to a certain market, but it must be frustrating not to be able to find exercise wear when you are actually trying to get fitter and lose weight or are the right weight and tall or are overweight but fit.

Even most running and other sports wear only goes up to a size 16.

Yes, I think it is genetic. I'm am never going to be Kate Moss! I'm not especially fat round the middle, do lots of exercise and eat healthy but have the biggest set of bazukas in the land no amount of dieting shifts them and I can't wear a shirt as the buttons gape or if I get one big enough it's a tent round my middle!! My mum and gran exactly the same!! I'm a size 29 on the top and a 12 round the hips - seriously bloody annoying!!

20 not 29