Being slim: Is it in our genes? 6 Minute English

Neil: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute

English. I'm Neil and joining me for this

is Dan.

Dan: Hello.

Neil: And can I say Dan, you're looking

very slim - it looks like your

diet is working!

Dan: This is my normal figure - and I have

not been on a diet. But it looks like you've

actually put on a bit of weight.

Neil: Well I may have a little paunch -

or a fat stomach - but didn't

you know that it's

out of my control? Some of this

has to do with my genes - not the

ones I wear - but

the cells in my body that control

my development. That's what we'll be

discussing in this programme.

Dan: However our audience might

describe themselves - tubby and

overweight or thin and skinny,

which means very thin - they're

more than welcome to join us

on this voyage of discovery.

So let's start with answering a question.

Neil: What's the name of the popular

diet that involves avoiding

eating carbohydrates and in

which you can eat as much fat

and protein as you like? Is it...

a) the Mediterranean diet,

b) the Atkins diet, or c) the Graham diet?

Dan: I've heard of the Atkins diet,

so I'll say b).

Neil: Well, you'll have to wait a bit to find

out. But Dan, you may have also heard of

a crash diet - that's where

someone makes a rapid change

to the types of food they eat

with the aim of losing weight quickly.

Dan: Yes, I know that eating this way

can be risky for your health

and they don't always work.

Neil: That's true and now scientists

have some evidence that shows

that our weight is not just

controlled by what we eat. So it might be

quite natural for someone to be thin

or fat - it's all to do with their genes.

Research published in

the journal PLOS Genetics,

explains how twin studies

have shown that about 40% of the

variation in a person's weight

is affected by their genes.

And also, why thin, but healthy people

have genetic advantages

in terms of maintaining a healthy weight.

Dan: So that means that losing weight

isn't just about having willpower -

that's controlling your own

behaviour to achieve something - it's

actually about something

that's out of our control?

Neil: Yes, possibly. Let's hear

from the study's author, Sadaf Farooqi,

who is Professor of

Metabolism and Medicine at the

University of Cambridge, and has been

a pioneer in the genetics of obesity

for more than twenty years. Obesity,

of course, is where someone is very

overweight, in a way that is dangerous for

their health. Here she is speaking on the

BBC World Service programme,

Health Check. What does she say

might be one of the benefits of this

research for people who are overweight?

Sadaf Farooqi: It actually can be very

helpful in trying to get them

to come to terms with some of the

difficulties they may be having

but also help them engage

with help and support to try and

encourage weight loss... I hope

one of the main outcomes

of this work might be,

to a little bit, to start to get people

thinking about that.

Because people are very

judgemental and tend to think,

look if I can stay thin and control

my weight why can't you? And what I

would say to that is, well the data now

shows that you're probably quite

lucky in terms of the genes that

you have rather than just being

either morally superior

or having better willpower.

Neil: Some interesting thoughts there.

For people who are overweight,

this research can help them

come to terms with the struggle they may

be having to lose weight. When you

come to terms with something,

you start to accept the difficult or

unpleasant situation you are in.

Dan: So I suppose she means

accepting that if you're trying to shed a

few pounds unsuccessfully,

it's not all your fault. And it may stop

people being so judgemental -

that's so quick to criticise

people based on their own beliefs.

Neil: A slim person might say, "Well,

I ate less and lost weight,

so why can't you?" - and now

we know things aren't quite that simple.

You are just lucky to have the right genes

but it doesn't make you 'morally superior'.

Dan: So it's not just about

having willpower.

Neil: This research is much more

detailed of course than we have

time to explain here

but for someone who is overweight,

will they feel defeated?

Dan: Absolutely not, according to

Professor Farooqi. For people

who are obese, this research

is helpful. Not only should it give them

hope, it could lead to the development of

medicines to help them.

Neil: But as genes only play a part in our

size and weight, we should

all eat a healthy

diet and do some exercise.

And there is always new research

about the best things to do and

the right things to eat.

Dan: Recently, research published

in the British Journal of Sports Medicine,

said that bursts of high intensity

interval training may be more effective

for weight loss than longer

less intense workouts. A burst is a sudden

and short increase in something.

Neil: Even if diets don't help you

lose weight - eating the balanced diet

can certainly keep you healthy

and make you feel good. And as

I'm talking about diets, why don't I answer

the question I asked you earlier?

What's the name of the popular diet

in which you should avoid eating

carbohydrates but you can have as much

fat and protein as you want? Is it...

a) the Mediterranean diet, b) the Atkins

diet, or c) the Graham diet?

Dan: I said the Atkins diet.

Neil: And that is correct, well done. This

well-known low-carb diet was developed by

the American physician and

cardiologist Robert Atkins in the 1960s.

Others low-card diets

are available!

Dan: Neil, I think it's time we

reminded ourselves of some of the

vocabulary we've discussed today.

Neil: Good idea. Let's talk about paunch -

another name for a fat stomach

that men like me - and you - have.

Dan: Speak for yourself! I'm closer

to skinny - a word to describe

someone looking very

thin and sometimes ill. Our next word was

willpower. If you have willpower, you can

control your own behaviour

to achieve something.

Neil: The next phrase, come to terms

with something means you start to

accept the difficult

or unpleasant situation you are in.

Dan: If you are judgemental, you are

quick to criticise people

based on your own beliefs.

Neil: And finally, we mentioned a burst of

high intensity interval training. A burst

is a sudden and short

increase in something.

Dan: Well we've had a burst of vocabulary

there and it's time to say goodbye. Please

join us next time.

Neil: And of course don't forget

our website, bbclearningenglish.com.

Goodbye.

Dan: Bye!