How Does Weight Influence Your Genes?

When you think of weight loss, chances are you’re picturing the outward, visible effects of shedding pounds. Of course, you’ll look better in your clothes, feel more energized, and gain self-confidence. You’ll even see an improvement in organ function and your internal body systems.

But have you ever thought about the internal changes that manifested when you gained weight in the first place? Do you have any idea how much your body was affected beyond the outward and visible?

A recent study, weight gain can cause serious changes down to the genetic level. Understanding this is the first step in recognizing the risks of excess body fat and the importance of restoring a healthy body composition. Reducing fat and rebuilding lean mass are critical for long-term health.

Understanding the Link Between Weight and Genetic Changes 

What obesity genetics experts have found over the last few decades is that there’s a definitive link between weight and genetic changes.

This study, published in BMC Medicine, followed 2,300+ participants over the course of seven years, mapping their body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and weight change throughout the period. They looked at the genetic effects of weight gain and found that gene expression patterns, metabolic pathways, and key cellular functions were significantly altered.

Weight gain is about so much more than carrying around some extra fat. It’s about your body undergoing very real changes on a molecular level. And that’s what we’ll dive into below in greater detail below.

Note: We will reference the above study repeatedly throughout this article.

The Devastating Effect of Long-Term Weight Gain 

From a genetic standpoint, long-term weight gain leads to some serious health effects. Read on as we break down what science says about what long-standing weight gain can do to you genetically.

Metabolism Impacts

Among the most common and well-documented consequences of putting on weight is the strain it places on your metabolism. The study found that weight gain slowed metabolism and disrupted genetic metabolite modules. These are groups of genes that work together to regulate metabolic functions. The modules showed clear changes in response to increased weight and body fat.

When this happens, your body cannot burn calories as efficiently as it might otherwise. Because of this, more of these calories are stored as fat. And this can compound a weight loss issue, making it harder to lose fat and maintain a normal weight. Though, you can’t blame a lagging metabolism for weight gain – a lot more factors are at play.

Cholesterol Changes

Individuals that put on extra weight can also experience profound cholesterol changes. The study referenced above showed that among subjects who gained weight, every type of cholesterol – LDL (bad cholesterol), VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein), HDL (good cholesterol) and triglycerides – was negatively affected. Triglyceride levels were especially sensitive to genetic changes triggered by weight gain.

Genetic alterations like these directly compromise your body’s ability to balance its lipid metabolism. And over time, poorly controlled cholesterol can result in a buildup of arterial plaque. That plaque can clog or narrow your arteries and ratchet up your risk of stroke and heart attack.

All in all, multiple genes identified in the regulation of your lipid metabolism become dysregulated when you gain weight. This, in turn, indirectly puts your heart health at risk.

Altered Amino Acid Processing

Another genetic process that’s changed by weight gain is amino acid processing. The body’s use and absorption of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are altered as a result of weight gain.

These amino acids (leucine, valine, and isoleucine) are essential to the body’s well-being and can be consumed in your everyday diet – eggs, dairy, and meat are good sources. When you add these amino acids to your diet, you can reap benefits like increased muscle growth, decreased muscle soreness, less exercise-induced fatigue, and more.

But as you gain weight, your body isn’t as efficient at processing BCAAs. The genetic pathways responsible for metabolizing BCAAs begin to change, which can lead to a buildup of these compounds in the blood. Instead of experiencing the aforementioned benefits of these special amino acids, you could be in for metabolic disease and disturbances instead.

Taking things a step further, in this Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice study from 2020 contributors stated that “weight change modulates the association between dietary BCAAs and the risk of metabolic syndrome.”

For the purposes of the study, individuals’ weight and BCAA food intake were collected over time, and what was found was astounding.

Those who gained at least 7% or more of their body weight and consumed a substantial amount of BCAAs had a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. On the other hand, those who maintained a stable weight (gained less than 7% of their body weight) and didn’t eat a lot of BCAAs didn’t carry as high a risk.

Effects on Red Blood Cells

In addition to the above, the aforementioned study, published in BMC Medicine, found that weight directly affects red blood cells. More specifically, a gene expression module indicated the potential for weight change to influence the development of the red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients around the body. 

*More research is needed on this topic to fully understand the genetic mechanisms behind this change.

Other studies, like this one published in 2022, cite obesity as a risk factor for high blood pressure, a condition associated with elevated red blood cell parameters. Severe obesity/extreme obesity carries an even higher risk.

Erythrocytosis is among the most common blood cell conditions diagnosed in people who are overweight or dealing with obesity. It’s when your blood cell concentration is higher than what’s considered normal for you.

Having too many red blood cells can cause several symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, blurry vision, confusion, nosebleeds/bruising, and more.

Insulin Sensitivity and Resistance

Among the most well-documented consequences of weight gain is a decline in insulin sensitivity, and the main BMC study (referenced above) confirms it. Researchers found that insulin sensitivity was impaired in people who gained weight. This has the potential to lead to higher instances of insulin resistance.

What does this mean for your overall health and medical future? There’s no way to pinpoint it with certainty, but insulin resistance is known to be a precursor to type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This resistance can also contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome.

Mitochondrial Function Decline

Mitochondria are the body’s energy factories. They help maintain energy balance, but weight gain impairs their function at the genetic level.

As found in the BMC study we mentioned earlier, mitochondrial function was decreased as a result of weight gain, leaving less energy available in the body’s muscle cells.

Since your mitochondria help to produce the vast majority of your body’s energy, it holds serious implications for the functionality of your organs. Genetic mitochondrial ailments can affect a wide range of body parts and systems, from your kidneys to your heart to your liver, and even your central nervous system.

Maintaining mitochondrial health depends heavily on keeping your weight within a healthy range. This helps preserve mitochondrial function and reduces the risk of metabolic decline.

When the scientists combed over all the data, the results were pretty clear. As evidence suggests per that same study, “weight gain and weight loss showed largely opposing associations.”

The participants that lost weight showed improvement to their body at a genetic level, while people who gained weight showed a decline.

Weight Loss and Reversal of Genetic Effects

Obesity isn’t just a potential threat; we’re witnessing a global obesity epidemic. The World Health Organization paints a picture of the prevalence of obesity for us on their Obesity and Overweight page. In 2022, more than 2.5 billion adults around the world were overweight, with 890 million of those being fully obese. And many national health issues boil down to obesity.

As evidenced by the data above, obesity and weight gain have seriously negative effects, effects that can transform the body down to the genetic level.

How Obesity Creates a Vicious Cycle

The problem many aren’t aware of is that the above changes lead to a downward spiral. The more weight you gain, the more changes occur in your body, which simply increases your chance of more weight gain. The effects may be minute at first, but they eventually snowball until your health is seriously impacted in the long-term.

But there’s good news: not all of these effects are permanent, and weight loss can sometimes reverse unwanted genetic consequences. Certain genes that were turned on because of the weight gain can be turned off with a healthy diet, exercise, and the weight loss that may follow.

So, don’t think that just because you’ve developed negative genetic changes, it means you’re automatically stuck with them.

Awakening Your Healthy Genes Through Lifestyle Changes 

We can activate our healthy genes and reap the benefits by understanding the underlying dietary and environmental factors that contribute to weight gain and making the right lifestyle choices.

Here are a few things you can do in this regard: 

• Choose whole, nutrient-dense fruits, veggies, and lean proteins. The less processed they are, the better. It also helps to cut items that are high in sugar or formulated with a lot of artificial ingredients. These items are among the most influential causes of obesity.
• Get up and get moving several times a week.Physical activity affects the expression of genes and is essential to any healthy regimen, especially if your goal is to lose some extra pounds. People who eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly may be able to offset a high genetic risk of heart disease and other conditions.
• Get a handle on chronic stress – it increases your obesity risk. It not only turns on genes that are supposed to be silenced, but it also makes it harder to lose weight and maintain weight loss, sabotaging your efforts from the start.

Many people need help regulating their body weight. If you are looking for inspiration and motivation to get started on your journey to awaken your healthy genes, then we invite you to learn more about Zonia. It’s an exclusive community and video-streaming platform where you can get instant access to hundreds of educational videos across all areas of health and lifestyle:

Conclusion: The Importance of Healthy Weight Management for Genetic Health

Weight gain can seem like a surface-level issue, but it’s not…by a long shot. Aside from prompting visible body changes, it triggers real, measurable genetic changes that alter how your body functions on a molecular level.

It can slow your resting metabolic rate, impair amino acid processing, and set off a myriad of biological changes that increase your risk of potentially life-threatening conditions ranging from type 2 diabetes to cardiovascular disease. Over time, these changes can become more pronounced, making it easier for your body to store fat and harder to lose weight.

But the good thing to remember is that you’re not doomed to deal with these genetic alterations forever. You can use the tips and resources we shared above to get down to a healthier weight, reactivate beneficial gene expression, and restore balance to your body.

What makes weight management so powerful is its ability to go beyond the surface—it doesn’t just help you shed pounds, it actually helps switch your genes back on in ways that support energy, repair, and longevity. By reclaiming control over your metabolism and cellular health, you’re giving your body the chance to regenerate from the inside out.

Restore Life contains science-backed ingredients to make you look and feel younger. Plus, it also has some exceptional benefits for your skin, blood sugar, bones, heart, joints and cellular health. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can being skinny be genetic?

Yes, it’s very well-known among scientific experts that genetic variations can play a major role in how much a person ultimately weighs. Some folks will inherit gene variants that lead them to have a naturally faster metabolism or a higher resting energy expenditure. Anti-obesity traits like these can make it easy for someone to stay thin without even trying or while eating lots of very fatty, sugary, high-calorie foods.

Still, certain lifestyle factors like foods eaten, exercise habits, and stress management efforts all influence weight. So, even though someone might have “skinny genes,” genetic defects/malfunctions are just one piece of the puzzle.

Do genes control who we are?

Absolutely. Your genes have a very strong influence on who you are – outer physical features and inner body processes included. That being the case, remember that your genes aren’t the only factor influencing who you turn out to be. Add to that the fact that elements of your environment and lifestyle can activate and deactivate certain genes. So, yes, your genes help to make you you. But you are not your genes, and you can influence them in a myriad of ways.

Are some people fat no matter what? 

When it comes to human obesity, genetic factors play a substantial role. When people develop obesity and can’t shed the weight no matter what they do, it could come down to a genetic disposition that causes them to gain or retain weight easily.

There are even genetic syndromes related to obesity. Monogenic obesity, for example, is a severe form of obesity caused by a gene mutation. Single gene mutations can cause you to struggle with your weight, most commonly in the MC4R gene.

Some people have stronger hunger signals, a slower metabolism, or the tendency to store body fat in unfavorable ways – often influenced by genes linked to obesity. However, depending on the specific case, they may be able to overcome it through lifestyle changes.

Sources

The genetics of obesity: from discovery to biology

Multi-omic signature of body weight change: results from a population-based cohort study

The truth about metabolism

Genetic influences on blood lipids and cardiovascular disease risk: tools for primary prevention

High cholesterol

Lipids dysregulation in diseases: core concepts, targets and treatment strategies

5 Proven Benefits of BCAAs (Branched-Chain Amino Acids)

Weight gain, but not macronutrient intake, modifies the effect of dietary branch chain amino acids on the risk of metabolic syndrome

Positive Associations between Body Mass Index and Hematological Parameters, Including RBCs, WBCs, and Platelet Counts, in Korean Children and Adolescents

Erythrocytosis

Erythrocytosis NHS

About Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes

Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and overweight

A concise review on the interaction between gene expression/polymorphisms and exercise

Healthy living could offset genetics and add years free of heart disease

Stress can control our genes, researchers find

How Stress Can Cause Weight Gain

Zonia

Detecting monogenic obesity: a systematic exome-wide workup of over 500 individuals