Aug 4, 2008 7:16 am US/Eastern
Health: Hunger Gene
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl takes a look at why your children may be genetically prone to becoming obese.
Vanilla ice cream with sprinkles is awfully hard to resist for nine-year-old Jenna Cunneen, but some children aren't satisfied with just one ice cream cone. New research may explain why a gene already linked to obesity may be the culprit.
A British study of more than 3,000 8 to 11-year-olds found children with a particular strain of the gene couldn't tell when they were full and were likely to eat more than children without the gene.
"It is genuinely much more difficult for them to regulate their food intake appropriately," said Professor Jane Wardle, a researcher at the University College of London.
Nutritionist Tara Miller says the research shouldn't doom a child to a lifelong battle with weight.
"You still want to address it from a very healthy perspective and try to change the things you have control over, keeping in mind the things you do not," said Miller.
Jenna's family has their own strategy for staying healthy.
"We eat at home to avoid going out because that's where all the traps are," said Cindy Cunneen, Jenna's mother.
Researchers say this new gene discovery could pave the way for developing an obesity test, new treatments and maybe someday a cure.
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