Researchers say people's genes help them to stay slim. Thin people have DNA that help them stay slim and stops them putting on weight. A professor of metabolism and medicine said: "Genes play at least 40 per cent of a role in people's weight. It's much more than people realize." This might explain why some people are naturally skinny, while others have problems with keeping their weight down.
The researchers wanted to find out why so many people struggle with their weight. On the island of Nauru, 94.5 per cent of adults are overweight. The professor wanted to help people who are struggling. She said: "It's easy to rush to judgment and criticize people for their weight....Healthy, thin people are generally thin because they have a lower burden of genes that increase a person's chances of being overweight."