Obesity-evolutionary Flashcards
How have modern times changed
Food is more readily available
Don’t use as much energy eg driving places
Ancestors got energy from solid foods and bodies evolved to intake the calories but in modern times many cals come from liquids which we haven’t evolved to deal with as efficiently
What is the thrifty gene hypothesis
Ancestors who were able to store fat easier were more likely to survive
Store fats for when food was scarce
Rpnatural selectiom would have favoured those who were able to store fat and less likely to burn it off
Explains why some people are more vulnerable to obesity
Eating high fat and sweet foods is like an evolutionary hangover how
It is still in our genes to want those foods but we don’t need them like we used to
Research into evol obesity
Chamilia
DiMeglio and Mates
Bray
What did Chamila do
200 Pima islanders
Metabolism regulated by single variant of DNA
Suggests they historically kicks in semi desert environment where food was scarce and genetic variation would result to store food more readily
Why did DiMeglio and Mates do
Food that when ppts given same amount of cals either solid and liquid, liquids lead to greater increase in weight
What did bray do
High fructose corn syrup cause of obesity
Used as a drink sweetener, consumption has increases 1000% between 70s and 90s in USA when there was large increase in obesity
Evaluation
Too simplistic Deterministic Can explain modern trends in obesity Supporting research Can explain Cultural differences
How can evol explain cultural differences
Thrifty gene mire common in groups where food was scarce
Certain groups come people my be less likely to put on weight
Eg Nile delta less likely to put on weight but there’s no history of food shortage
