January 30, 2013
There are lots of things we can't change, but our lifestyle isn't one of them. Good thing, too — our weight, nutrition habits, and exercise behaviors impact us beyond whether we look good in a swim suit. They also influence our risk for many different diseases. In the same way, our DNA also contributes [...]
May 6, 2012
Last week we quizzed our readers on traits associated with BMI among 23andMe’s customers. Congratulations to Suellen, the winner of the quiz! She got all three answers correct and will receive an Amazon gift card. So what were the correct answers? Read on... Which physical trait is most associated with [...]
April 26, 2012
Besides height and weight, can you guess what feature is most strongly correlated with body mass index (BMI)? Over the next few months, we’ll be testing your knowledge of some of the most interesting associations we’re seeing in the 23andMe database. Guess right, and you could win cool prizes, including [...]
February 23, 2011
Obesity is an enormous public health concern in the United States, affecting about 33% of adults and 20% of children and adolescents. While lifestyle and environmental factors play an undeniable role in whether an individual becomes obese, researchers have also uncovered common genetic variants that influence [...]
September 23, 2010
In 2009, 27% of Americans met the clinical criteria for obesity—a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater—7 percentage points higher than a mere 9 years earlier. Even this staggering 27% estimate may be too low. A large National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) study estimated the prevalence [...]
December 4, 2009
We all know people struggling with weight issues. Maybe they’re overweight and can’t seem to lose the pounds no matter what new diet or exercise regime they try. Or, maybe they’re underweight and have a hard time bulking up no matter how many donuts they consume or weights they lift. Clearly, there’s [...]
May 4, 2008
The Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, the Grapefruit diet, the Cabbage Soup diet – we know all these fad diets have their limits, because ultimately, the only way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and burn more. But have you ever thought about what controls your appetite? What if your body [...]
