TUCSON, Ariz. -- While many have to stay in the gym and watch their diets to stay thin, a new study shows being skinny may be genetic.
Researchers found thin people have specific gene regions in their DNA keeping them slim, while also having fewer gene variants linked to being overweight.
In the study, different genetic variants were added up to create a genetic risk score, which was found to be lower in thin people and higher in obese people.
The lead researcher said it is easy to criticize people for being overweight, but many may have less control over our weight than we think. A spokesman not involved in the study says the research challenges the assumption that overweight people are lazy or lack willpower. He also noted there are a lot of other factors besides genetics, such as diet and exercise.
