(Image: Donald Weber/VII)
There's no end of pop wisdom about why we gain or lose weight, from "fast" metabolisms to what time of day you eat. Here's what science really says
Skinny people have higher metabolisms
Generally, the opposite is true: the larger you are, the more calories you need to burn each day just to keep your body going. But there may be some exceptions. Mutations in a gene called KRS2 , which reduce the ability of cells to metabolise glucose and fatty acids to provide energy, are twice as common in obese people as slender ones. But they are still rare.
Middle-aged spread is inevitable
Ageing triggers hormonal changes in both men and women, and these can influence your predisposition to weight gain. Declining testosterone levels in men reduces muscle mass, which in turn decreases overall metabolic rate, while changes in ...
