Biology in Action

I know that I love salty foods.. maybe it’s because I have a soft spot for salt!

Genetics may play a big role in obesity, and this article seems to support that theory. But I wouldn’t be so quick to point a finger at the cause of “obesity.” In some cases people may genuinely have a genetic disability in which they have no voluntary control over weight gain, but at the level at which we see it where it is being called an “epidemic” – I don’t think most people people are at a genetic disadvantage, but rather they can not control their impulses in their environments. Considering the environmental factors, people live relatively sedentary.

This study grabbed my attention because I feel this is an important study to conduct due to obesity affecting more than 60% of adults in America. The issue of obesity is a growing one and it is now not only a problem among the adult population but we are starting to see it in children as well. Obesity can greatly affect a person’s life with all of the health problems it causes and even death. Since it is a growing epidemic in America, I think we need to find what causes it as well as a solution to obesity. With a study done on rats they were able to link the tongue to obesity. It may be just one small step on the road to recovery but every little bit helps.

Interesting . . . Based on this study, eating more sweets does not quell the “sweet-tooth,” but causes the need for more sweets. It follows the theory of over-simulation, so it makes sense, but it seems ironic…almost. It’s like a bad cycle.