Can your genetics stop you from losing weight?

Author: Camila Heidenreich  |  Last update: Saturday, March 22, 2025

Weight loss is a complicated process. There are so many factors involved including your diet, how much sleep you get each night and the kind of exercise you do. Our recent study shows that your specific genetic profile may also have a dominant effect on how well you lose weight through exercise.

Do genetics make it hard to lose weight?

Genetic predisposition

Some individuals may experience obesity or an inability to lose weight or certain metabolic disorders which are in fact the result of hereditary or genetic factors rather than lifestyle choices.

Are there genetic reasons for not losing weight?

The Genetic Influence on Losing Weight

These genetic differences can impact metabolism, appetite regulation, and the distribution of body fat. For example, some individuals may have a genetic predisposition to a slower metabolic rate, making it harder for them to burn calories efficiently.

How to lose weight when genetics are against you?

The Bottom Line
  1. Get active. Aim for 2 1/2 hours of moderate-intensity exercise like brisk walking every week. Even doing 10 minutes at a time helps. ...
  2. Eat less. Cut calories. ...
  3. Choose good-for-you foods. Go for fruit, veggies, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy foods.

Does your genetics affect your weight?

Stunkard and colleagues (1986) estimated that as much as 70 percent of the variance in the occurrence of obesity could be attributed to genetic factors, but other authors have postulated that as little as 20 percent of the variance is due to genetic factors.

Resistant weight loss | Are your genes preventing you from losing weight??

Can a genetically skinny person gain weight?

A person's build depends largely on genetic factors, which is why it is difficult for a naturally thin person to put on weight. The human body can change to a limited extent through weight training and increased food intake. Gaining or regaining weight can be just as difficult as losing weight.

What affects weight loss the most?

These likely include genes, hormones, diet and lifestyle, including sleep, physical activity and stress. You gain weight when you eat more calories than you burn — or burn fewer calories than you eat. Some people seem to lose weight more quickly and more easily than others.

Why is it so difficult to lose weight?

For most overweight people, their body tries to prevent permanent weight loss. This means your body is actually working against you to lose weight. That's because how much you weigh is controlled by complex interactions between hormones and neurons in your hypothalamus.

Why am I gaining weight so fast?

Weight gain and short-term fluctuations may happen for a variety of reasons, such as aging or making lifestyle and dietary changes. However, fast weight gain can be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a problem with the thyroid, kidneys, or heart.

Is belly fat genetic?

estimated in a Quebec family study that genetics accounted for 56% of abdominal visceral fat, but only 42% of subcutaneous fat [40].

Why is my body not letting me lose weight?

Muscle helps keep up the rate at which you burn calories (metabolism). So as you lose weight, your metabolism declines, causing you to burn fewer calories than you did at your heavier weight. Your slower metabolism will slow your weight loss, even if you eat the same number of calories that helped you lose weight.

What condition doesn't allow you to lose weight?

Among them, Kurth says, are:
  • Chronic stress . ...
  • Cushing's syndrome. ...
  • Hypothyroidism. ...
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). ...
  • Syndrome X. ...
  • Depression. ...
  • Hormonal changes in women.

Why can't I lose belly fat?

You're Doing the Wrong Exercises

Those sit-ups aren't enough. You also need weight training to build muscle. More muscle means more calorie burning. That said, if you can only do one exercise, choose aerobic exercise (like walking or running).

Why am I not losing weight when I exercise and diet?

Your body eventually adapts to your workout regime, so you burn fewer calories and slow down weight loss progress. Other health conditions: There are some medical conditions that can drive weight gain and make it harder to lose weight. These include hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome and sleep apnea.

How much of your body shape is genetic?

Studies suggest that while your genes may determine up to 80 percent of your weight and body shape, environment and personal choice still play a significant role. So even if you're a dead ringer for your mother in old family photos, it doesn't mean you'll enter middle age with the same body.

How to lose belly fat?

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

Why am I gaining weight if I barely eat?

If you're asking yourself, “Why am I gaining weight when I barely eat,” several factors may be at play. Your body may be holding onto fat stores if your eating habits are inconsistent or restricted. Or, your weight gain may be the effect of a sedentary lifestyle, medical condition, or long-term stress.

How long does it take to lose 20 pounds?

To lose weight effectively and safely, aiming to lose 1 to 2 pounds (lbs) per week may be best. This means that losing 20 lbs may take 10 to 20 weeks. To lose weight, people will likely need to follow a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Some popular diets are effective initially but challenging to maintain.

How to flush out water weight?

  1. Exercise Regularly. Daily exercise provides several health benefits, including preventing water retention. ...
  2. Drink More Water. Drinking water to reduce water weight sounds counterintuitive, but it helps. ...
  3. Manage Salt Intake. ...
  4. Cut Carbs. ...
  5. Focus on Certain Foods and Herbs. ...
  6. Try Supplements. ...
  7. Up Your Caffeine Intake.

At what age is it hardest to lose weight?

Conventional wisdom has long held that metabolism slows with age, but research challenges that assumption. According to a study published in 2021 in the journal Science, metabolism actually holds steady from ages 20 to 60 — so long as your muscle mass doesn't change — then declines by about 0.7 percent a year after 60.

What is the 30 30 30 rule?

You eat 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up, followed by 30 minutes of “steady-state cardiovascular exercise.” Eating a protein-filled breakfast in the morning can stave off cravings later, and exercising first thing ensures you get some movement before your day gets going.

What is blocking my weight loss?

Weight loss resistance is a complex issue that is influenced by various factors, including hormonal imbalances, chronic stress, poor sleep quality, medications, poor gut health, thyroid disorders, sex hormone fluctuations, and blood sugar imbalance with insulin or leptin resistance.

What is the biggest reason people can't lose weight?

10 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight
  • You're Too Stressed Out. ...
  • You're Eating Too Much. ...
  • You're Not Consistent With Your Exercise and Healthy Eating. ...
  • You Blow It On The Weekends. ...
  • You Haven't Given Yourself Enough Time to See Results. ...
  • You Have a Medical Condition. ...
  • You've Hit a Plateau. ...
  • You Don't Need To Lose Weight.

Which drink reduces belly fat?

The article highlights five homemade morning drinks that assist in losing belly fat by enhancing metabolism and promoting fat burning. These beverages include honey-infused lemon water, jeera water, buttermilk or chaas, cinnamon tea, and green tea.

How to kick start your metabolism?

Fat-burning ingredients like protein, spicy peppers and green tea have been proven to bump up metabolism. Eat some form of these foods, especially protein, at every meal. Protein is especially important: It takes more calories to digest than other foods and also helps the body build fat-burning lean muscle tissue.

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