Scientists unlock secret to overeating

A collaboration of scientists led by Professor Jane Wardle (Director of Cancer Research UK's Health Behaviour Research Centre in UCL Epidemiology & Public Health) have published today in the 'International Journal of Obesity' new evidence that the tendency to overeat could be genetic. UCL researchers, who were funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, created a new experiment to see if eating when full was linked to a gene called FTO**. by observing the behaviour of 131 four- to five-year-olds who were offered a plate of biscuits after they had eaten a meal. They found the children who ate more biscuits were more likely to have one or two of the 'higher' risk versions of the FTO gene. This research could help pave the way to a better understanding of the processes that lead children to become overweight or obese ' one of the biggest risk factors for cancer. Professor Wardle, lead author of the research paper, said: "Previous research has shown that the FTO gene is linked to larger body size. We believe this research published today tells us more about how some children are more responsive to signals in their bodies encouraging them to eat when full than others.