Weight Genes: Why eating less & exercise is NOT always the answer

What upsets me is when women start gaining weight – perhaps after having children, during busy periods, or approaching menopause/perimenopause – and doctors run basic tests, find “nothing wrong,” and simply say, “Eat less and exercise more. You’ve had babies. You’re getting older. There’s nothing wrong with you.”

That’s not the answer. When these women return with more symptoms like sleep disturbances or headaches, they’re often given band aid approaches – sleeping tablets or antidepressants. This isn’t normal, and it’s not addressing the real issues. We need to look at metabolic rate, genetics, and functional pathology.

Understanding the genetic factors that influence weight and weight gain is a major area of our expertise. We’re born with the same genes we’ll have when we die, While we can’t change our genes, we can change their expression – an empowering concept for our clients.

Obesity has become a diagnosis, rather than a state of being.

Obesity has become a diagnosis, rather than a state of being.
More than 2 billion adults are overweight or obese, with projections suggesting this number will double by 2035. Obesity claims more lives worldwide than malnutrition. In America, obesity is now classified as a diagnosed condition – you are diagnosed with obesity. In Australia, we still say a person is obese, but in America, they’re transitioning to saying “you have obesity.”

[NEW Webcast] Weight Genes: Why Eating Less & Exercising more is NOT the answer.

Understanding DNA and Genes
As you know, our bodies consist of cells.Within each tiny cell, we have chromosomes made of DNA. We have a double helix that comes from our mum and dad. The connections between these helixes control everything in our body – hormones, enzyme function, digestion, thinking and behaviour, nutrient metabolism, hormonal communication, physical characteristics, disease predispositions, and the list goes on…

Every metabolic process and bodily function requires DNA activation.Before examining hormones, we must understand genetics because this little double helix instructs hormones how to function.

I struggled with weight my entire life. My mum used to ask the doctor what was wrong with me because I was fatter than my siblings.

During my teenage years, I struggled with weight. Though never overweight, I definitely had difficulty losing weight. In my early twenties, I experienced extreme fatigue and mental fog. My weight fluctuated dramatically, I suffered terrible brain fog, and my periods were irregular.

I was eventually diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease and an underactive thyroid. Fortunately, I was a naturopath in my final year of training, so I was able to address my thyroid condition effectively using naturopathic medicine. I lost weight and felt much better.

Now in my mid-thirties, I’ve learned a lot more about my personal genes through genetic testing. I’ve had many lightbulb moments understanding why I struggled with weight. After having my child four years ago, our clinic delved more into genetic testing, and I really understood what was happening with my body. I changed the expression of my genes and lost about 12 kilos, which I’ve easily been able to keep off.

Key Genes That Influence Weight
Our research focuses on several critical genes that affect weight management:

ADIPQ
This gene regulates adiponectin, a hormone that comes from fat tissue and helps control blood glucose and fat levels in the bloodstream. A polymorphism (genetic variation) in this gene leads to a lesser ability of adiponectin to regulate blood sugar and fat.

This can cause high triglycerides, high blood glucose, high HbA1C, and insulin issues. When insulin resistance develops, glucose can’t enter cells properly, so a layer of fat wraps around it and stores it around the midsection.

This gene is also linked to high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. Every time I’ve checked this gene in patients who had gestational diabetes, I’ve found they had a polymorphism on the ADIPQ gene.

FTO Gene
This is the most well-researched gene for obesity. It affects two key hormones: ghrelin (which signals hunger) and leptin (which signals fullness).

With a healthy FTO gene, we produce ghrelin when hungry, eat a meal, then produce leptin which tells our brain we’re full. When there’s a polymorphism on this gene, you’re constantly hungry. Even after a balanced meal with protein and good fats, people with an FTO mutation often crave something sweet or a little “something” afterward.

TCF7L2 Gene
This common gene regulates insulin production. When we eat carbohydrates, our brain signals our pancreas to make insulin. This gene plays a key role in that regulation. Impaired insulin secretion can lead to insulin resistance and weight gain.

PPAR-Alpha Gene
This gene regulates fatty acid utilisation and metabolism through the liver. I found a fascinating study where researchers took two groups of mice – one group with a polymorphism on the PPAR-alpha gene and one without. They exposed both groups to a stressor (noise) and fed them the same high-fat diet.

The mice with the PPAR-alpha mutation became obese, while those without the mutation remained lean despite the identical diet and stressor. This parallels what I’ve seen in thousands of patients – almost every client who suddenly gained weight can trace it back to a stressful event like divorce, bereavement, job loss, or relocation.

ANKK1 Gene
This gene doesn’t directly influence metabolic hormones but affects addictions. It’s well-researched in drug and alcohol addictions, and we often see polymorphisms in this gene in patients with food addictions.

How to Identify, Test & Address IF You have a “Weight Gene”
Our genetics, environment, and behaviour all play key roles in diet and obesity. Genetics control our behaviour, but by changing gene expression and modifying our environment, we can alter how we metabolise foods and fats, and even change our eating behaviours and food cravings.

Start with BASIC Annual Blood Work (available at a local GP), looking at:

• Cholesterol profiles, especially triglycerides
• Diabetic markers: HbA1c and insulin
• Homocysteine (cardiovascular risk and inflammation marker)
• Vitamin D (both a vitamin and hormone precursor)
• Full blood count, biochemistry, liver function
• Kidney and pancreatic function
• Thyroid function and autoimmune conditions
• Adrenal health
• Nutrient levels
• Potential heavy metals and minerals

Common Metabolic Markers that start to pop up include:

• Elevating Cholesterol
• Subclinical Hypothyroidism OR Hypothyroidism
• Elevating Liver Markers or Fatty Liver Disease (often non-alcoholic)
• Insulin Resistance. (We consider a HBA1C over 5.0 to be edging closer to insulin resistance.)
• PreDiabetes/Diabetes
• Weight Loss Resistance

Patients with these conditions typically experience (two or more of these symptoms):

• Inability to lose weight
• Low motivation
• Fatigue
• “Not feeling right”
• Fluid retention
• High appetite
• Anxiety

Methylation also plays a part. We went deep into methylation last Sunday. (Go back and read if you want to learn more :)).

Methylation makes it look like there’s a number of problems at one time and is often the connection to histamine problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevating liver enzymes, sensitive immune system, and is often the “lynchpin” causing the metabolic dysfunction.

You can test your methylation and adjust your levels fairly easily.
Knowing your genetic expression helps you connect the key nutrients you’re body is struggling with that’s affecting the methylation pathways.

So many of our patients come to us having history of infertility, a childhood diagnosis they have “grown out of”, struggling with weight, not quite recovered from their pregnancy, anxiety they can’t kick (even with medication), and the worst part is poor confidence, largely due to weight gain.

It takes some unpacking, but your blood work, your genes, and your nutrient levels give us a 360° perspective on why your symptoms are arising and how to quickly get you losing weight again and feeling better than you have in a long time, possibly ever!

Tiaan Bennett
Clinical Director & Founder
The Naturopathy Clinic | Tiaan Bennett & Associates
[email protected]
+61 0467 094 918 – Work | +1 817-917-8887 – Work
thenaturopathyclinic.com