Staying slim isn't just about what you eat - it's about your DNA too

Many people have skinny friends who claim not to gain weight even if they eat unhealthily. They may not be lying. Several pieces of DNA turn out to be associated with lower body weight, suggesting a genetic basis for slimness. The findings also suggests thinness may be heritable.

Previous research has suggested that about 40 to 70 per cent of variation in our body weight can be explained by genetics. Scientists have discovered a link between genes and obesity, so Sadaf Farooqi at the University of Cambridge and her…