Some are destined to be fatter if they eat fried food, study finds

A bucket of fried chicken and an order of fries aren’t exactly healthful to begin with. But a new study suggests they’re even worse for you if you happen to have a genetic risk for obesity.

In a study by the Harvard School of Public Health published in the British Medical Journal, researchers examined the relationship between eating fried foods and the genes associated with obesity. They looked at data from more than 37,000 people who participated in three large studies and gave blood for genetic testing over several years. Their body mass indexes (BMI), or the measures of their weight relative to their height, were monitored.

Researchers found 32 obesity genes and estimated each person’s overall risk for obesity. Participants were given questionnaires that asked whether they ate fried food once a week, one to three times a week, or four or more times a week.

The results showed that some people are destined to be fatter than others, even if they eat the same foods. Of the people with the highest genetic risk for obesity, those who ate fried foods had higher BMIs than those who ate less fried foods.

The study concluded if you are genetically predisposed to obesity, you should cut down on fried stuff.

Future studies are being planned to look at the effects that fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains have on a person’s overall risk for obesity.

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