BBC Learnings · Section 10

Being slim Is it in our genes

And can I say, Dan, you're looking very slim. It looks like your diet is working.

Level: B1 · 132 sentences

Transcript

And can I say, Dan, you're looking very slim.
It looks like your diet is working.
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.
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.
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, huh?
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'd like?
Is it a the Mediterranean diet,
b the Atkins diet or c the Graham diet?
I've heard of the Atkins diet, so I'll say b.
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.
Yes, I know that eating this way can be risky
for your health and they don't always work.
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.
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?
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 20 years.
Obesity, of course, is where someone is very overweight
in a way that's 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?
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 to engage with help
and support to try to encourage weight loss.
I hope one of the main outcomes
of this work might be to a little bit
start to get people thinking about that, because people
are very judgmental 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.
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.
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.
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're just lucky to have the right genes,
but it doesn't make you morally superior.
So, it's not just about having willpower.
This research is much more detailed,
of course, than we've had time to explain here.
But for someone who is overweight, will they feel defeated?
Absolutely not, according to Professor Faruqi.
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.
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.
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.
Even if diets don't help you lose weight,
eating a 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?
I said the Atkins diet.
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.
Other low-carb diets are available.
Neil, I think it's time we reminded ourselves
of some of the vocabulary we've discussed today.
Good idea. Let's talk about paunch,
another name for a fat stomach that men like me
and you have. 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.
The next phrase, come to terms with something,
means you start to accept the difficult
or unpleasant situation you are in.
If you're judgemental, you're quick to criticise
people based on your own beliefs.
And finally, we mentioned a burst of high-intensity interval training.
A burst is a sudden and short increase in something.