An international team of researchers has attributed binge-eating behaviour in teens to a gene variation.
Researchers from University of Queensland Diamantina Institute and University College London Institute of Child Health analysed data from 6000 adolescents aged 14 and 16 and found that genetic variations associated with obesity risk could also predict binge-eating.
Professor David Evans at University of Queensland explained that finding the gene variation could lead to a better understanding of why young people developed binge-eating tendencies.
Their finding may also help medical professionals create strategies for identifying at-risk teenagers before they get to the stage where they are overweight or obese and face the many health problems associated with these issues.
“About 10 per cent of adults and teenagers binge-eat, which we define as excessive over eating with a lack of control over what they are eating”, Prof. Evans said.
The latest research goes a step further in identifying the specific genes that could lead to binge-eating behaviours in adolescence which could eventually lead to obesity.
Researchers found that if a young person had a particular variation in the location of the FTO gene, they were between 20 per cent and 30 per cent more likely to binge-eat.
Professor Evans said the pattern was particularly evident in girls, who were 30 per cent more likely to binge eat if they had the variation.
“It’s still early days in the research but we’re getting a better understanding of how these behaviours come about.
“It’s very complex because the tendency to binge is a behaviour influenced by many different genetic and environmental factors.”
it is not hereditary or generic, just control your habits.
Binge eating leads obesity and both obesity and binge eating are not genetic by any chance.
I was overweight few months ago due to binge eating and it wasn’t genetic, that doesn’t mean i could not lose weight. I just followed the diet of lisa plog and lost 22 pounds. Google for “lisa plog diet plans” and you would be able to find her diet.
Instead of associating hereditary or genetics with obesity, just follow a diet and lose weight.