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Mice Given an Experimental Gene Therapy Don't Get Fat (boingboing.net)
AmiMoJo shares a report from Boing Boing: Researchers at Flinders University knocked out a gene known as RCAN1 in mice, hypothesizing that this would increase "non-shivering thermogenesis," which "expends calories as heat rather than storing them as fat" -- the mice were fed a high-calorie diet and did not gain weight. In particular, the modified mice did not store fat around their middles -- a phenomenon associated with many health risks, including cardiac problems -- and their resting muscles burned more calories.
[Vice News reports:] The study's authors point out that there's a time and place for RCAN1's role in preventing calories from being burned: namely, back when food was scarce and calories weren't so readily available. In the modern world of "caloric abundance," however, too much fat is being stored and real health problems are ensuing as a result. The researchers suggest that "These adaptive avenues of energy expenditure [such as RCAN1] may now contribute to the growing epidemic of obesity." "We looked at a variety of different diets with various time spans from eight weeks up to six months," said Damien, "and in every case we saw health improvements in the absence of the RCAN1 gene. "Mice on a high-fat diet that lacked this gene gained no weight."
[Vice News reports:] The study's authors point out that there's a time and place for RCAN1's role in preventing calories from being burned: namely, back when food was scarce and calories weren't so readily available. In the modern world of "caloric abundance," however, too much fat is being stored and real health problems are ensuing as a result. The researchers suggest that "These adaptive avenues of energy expenditure [such as RCAN1] may now contribute to the growing epidemic of obesity." "We looked at a variety of different diets with various time spans from eight weeks up to six months," said Damien, "and in every case we saw health improvements in the absence of the RCAN1 gene. "Mice on a high-fat diet that lacked this gene gained no weight."
It totally is that simple. It's just that people start whining when you round them up and put them in camps. Waaagh waaagh metabolism waaagh waagh.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
If it really was that simple we wouldn't have the problems we have with obesity.
We could argue about where the problem lies, but it's pointless. Even if it is just people with no willpower and too lazy, how does knowing that help? We have tried shaming and berating, it doesn't work.
What does work is surgery, but that's drastic. This looks like a good option.
No, this looks like just another excuse to ignore the fucking lazy problem.
And you think we're "shaming and berating" fat people? We now live in a society that demands we include obese women in the supermodel category because body inclusivity is far more important than anything a doctor may have to say about weight and health backed with decades of evidence. We not only tolerate obesity, but we now embrace and reward it.
Lazy the elephant has been standing in the room shitting on everyone's shoes for years now, and everyone in the room pretends like it's natural and normal. You're right. There's no point in arguing where the problem lies, especially once the ignorance and stupidity reaches a certain level.
Could this new solution ultimately help people? Yeah, maybe. But don't try and call it anything more than a band-aid solution. Millions of humans are prematurely dying because they lack the motivation to include exercise in the equation of maintaining a healthy body and long life. The "drastic" solution to create a cure, is the most obvious one. Stop ignoring the elephant in the room.