by Mike Patrick

Created on: September 19, 2009

Have you ever noticed a svelte, elderly lady as she walked down the street; her head held high while her gray hair highlights the laugh-lines on her face? Her light, graceful step looks as if it belongs more on a dance floor than on the rough sidewalk. She is what one might call "genetically blessed." Most people are not.

Except for the genetically blessed, and those suffering from malnutrition, storing fat is hard-wired into the human DNA. Within populations with access to plentiful food, it can kick in at any age level.

Starting with childhood, there have always been a small number of truly obese children. Virtually all children go through phases of accumulating baby-fat followed by growth spurts. It's interesting to note, no school intervention, eating and/or exercise program in any school has ever modified the percentage of that school's obese children by as much as 1% (check the results of the trails). The good news is, in a large majority of those instances, the children's body fat index falls within the normal range as they age.

During most of the population's child-rearing and early working years, diet and physical activity tend to maintain an individual's "normal" weight. What is normal for one may not be normal for another. As a general rule, most fall into a broad median range; however, an individual's genetic weight may fall anywhere between rail thin to pumpkin.

Beginning at about forty years of age, two aggravating factors kick in. The first is normal wear and tear on the body: things begin to ache. Those aches and pains progress in the following years, resulting in decreased activity levels. The second factor is in the genetics of aging. The human body is genetically engineered to put on weight (when an adequate food supply is available) in later life. It usually begins in the 40s and ideally is limited to about a pound a year over the next 20 years. This extra weight acts as a supply reserve in the case of sickness or injury, and it's directly reflected on the recovery rates of those suffering from the diseases of aging.

How much does that extra fat help? The mortality rates show that only those who are truly morbidly obese face any diminished returns. Even then, a morbidly obese woman's mortality rate is superior to that of a "normal" male. Those considered overweight to obese have the best overall mortality rate. The worst rate is of those who fall below the normal rate-as well as those over 40 who lose substantial amounts of weight (who would have thought losing weight could be bad for you).

Is more activity a good thing? Sure, unless that activity advances the time that the aches and pains put an end to it. But being more active won't cure America of its overweight/ obesity problem because there isn't a problem. It's a genetic life line. Modify it at your own peril.

Learn more about this author, Mike Patrick.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.