It’s almost new year and one common resolution most of us would want to take is to shed that excess calories and work towards our fitness goals. But, did you know there is something (I bet you didn’t know)that is making it difficult for you to shed that excess fat? There is an interesting concept- the thrift gene hypothesis. Let’s dive into it and explore more.
Hypothesis
James V Neel of the university of Michigan proposed this hypothesis in 1962. This proposal was important in understanding why certain populations are more prone to type 2 diabetes compared to the others.
Interesting backstory
A set of genes- the thrift (you will know the reason in a bit) were naturally selected during periods of food scarcity throughout human history. These genes helped increase fat storage which helped them cope the famine, which is a good thing. However, gone are the days where you come across famine. Thanks to development, we have an abundant supply of food, water, and even resources. Most importantly, we have a continuous supply of food.
Thrift genes in the current scenario
Since these have been naturally selected over a period of time, these genes still exist in our genomes! But, there is no need to store fat at the moment. In fact, we have to lose it. The problem is different, and we cannot use the same solution. Since we (certain populations) have them in their genome, they tend to accumulate fat even if they eat less. The fat accumulation is especially evident in the belly region or the stomach, resulting in belly fat.
Because these genes signal the stomach to store fat and not spend it, the surrounding organs including liver and pancreas do not get energy (in the form of fats). Eventually, what also happens is the fat is stored in the form of fat on these organs too, resulting in conditions like fatty liver. Just like how you cannot walk with a big load of weight on your back, your organs will find it difficult to function with the thick layer of visceral fat surrounding them. These result in a bunch of other digestive issues.
Most importantly, these thrifty genes are the reason why certain groups of populations are more prone to developing type 2 diabetes.
How can we solve this?
Since thrift genes evolved during the times of famines, and they actually helped them in a positive way, the best and most practical way to solve this problem of accumulating belly fat is starving! As hard as it sounds, fasting is the key. That doesn’t mean you should never eat, which brings us to the next section of the article.
Intermittent fasting
This type of fasting involves eating during a short window of 4-5 hours and fasting for the rest of the day. A detailed blog post is coming up on ‘The right way to do intermittent fasting’.
Criticisms against thrift genes
Although it sounds like a plausible explanation for obesity and diabetes, for some scientists, this hypothesis looks too good to be true. They say famines are too short for genes to be naturally selected and take over an entire population. Some also say that genetic drift rather than positive selection was responsible for this problem, coming up with a unique ‘Drifty gene hypothesis’!
Take home message
Losing the tough belly fat can be a hard journey for most of us. Sometimes, you may be losing weight in inches before you can actually see it on the scale. So, now that you know the reason behind the problem, you don’t have to beat yourself up.
Again, this is not the only reason you wouldn’t be shedding those belly fat. Thrifty gene hypothesis is one of the theories that explains why certain groups of population are more prone to diabetes. Stay strong and consistent with your fitness regime and you will soon get your desired results.
Stay healthy, Stay happy!
Fascinating read, thanks for sharing.