A Gene that contributes to being overweight

A couple posts back, I referenced a gene that may have something to do with why some individuals are a bit different from the rest of the world in terms of their sleep schedules.

Well, on the subject of genetics, a gene that contributes to obesity has been found (for those who always believed that being overweight involved more than simply one's diet habits, feel free to say Aha!, I knew it!).

According to British scientists, about 15 percent of people have a genetic profile that makes them vulnerable to obesity. And these same individuals have an extra 15 percent body fat.

Finding an inherited basis for being overweight may be the first step on the road to developing gene therapy for obesity. Obesity is a primary contributor to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer.