People with a gene linked to weight gain are just as likely to benefit from weight loss programmes as those without, researchers have discovered.

研究人员发现，携带有肥胖基因的人减肥后的效果与未携带该基因的个体减肥的效果基本上是一样的。

The findings suggest diet, exercise and drug-based approaches to losing weight can be widely beneficial, even if some people may have a greater risk of piling on the pounds due to their genetics. In short, your DNA² is not a barrier to weight loss.

该研究表明，虽然有些人可能因为某些基因更容易变胖，但是节食、运动以及以服药为基础的减肥方法总体上来说还是很有效果的，总而言之，你的DNA完全不会影响你减肥。

While many genes³ are believed to affect body weight, a particular version of the so-called FTO gene shows one of the strongest associations with fat gain.

然而人们相信有好多种基因会影响体重，其中增肥效果最强的就是某种被称之为FTO基因的特殊变异。

Those carrying two copies of the genetic¹ variant⁴ – about 16% of the population – are on average 3kg heavier than those without, and 1.7 times more likely to be obese⁵.

携带这种基因变异的两种副本的人数约占人群的16%，他们会比无变异副本的人平均重3公斤，而且肥胖几率是普通人的1.7倍

While it is not known exactly how the genetic variant promotes weight gain, it is believed to increase the appeal of high-calorie foods and reduce the feeling of fullness after a meal.

虽然人们并不完全清楚FTO基因突变是如何影响体重的，不过人们相信这些基因段会增加人们对高卡路里食物的偏好、减少餐后的饱腹感。

But whether it also affects efforts to shed pounds has been a matter of debate.

但是一直以来人们对它是否会影响减肥效果存有争议。

"It has become clear that genetics play a part in the reason why some of us get fatter," said John Mathers, lead author of the research from Newcastle University.

该项研究领头人、来自纽卡斯尔大学的约翰·马瑟斯说："众所周知，基因在我们变胖的过程中扮演着重要的角色。"

"The one that has the biggest effect in most people is the FTO gene, so we wondered whether having the high-risk version of the FTO gene would affect how well you could lose weight."

"而其中最有影响力的便是FTO基因，所以我们就想知道，高危FTO突变基因中对减肥会有多大的影响。"

Writing in the British Medical Journal, Mathers and an international team of collaborators describe how they analysed eight previously⁶ published randomised control trials involving a total of more than 9,500 overweight or obese adults to investigate whether carrying the obesity⁷-linked version of the FTO gene affects the ability to lose weight.

马瑟斯在《英国医学杂志》里描述了他和一个国际合作团队，如何通过分析前人曾发表过的八项随机对照试验的结果，来调查携带肥胖FTO基因突变是否会影响人们减肥的能力。这八项实验共涵盖了9500多个超重或肥胖的成年研究对象。

In all of the studies, the participants were tested to discover whether they carried the genetic variant, and whether they had one copy or two, but the results were not disclosed to the participants.

在所有的研究中，研究者们均测试了研究对象是否携带该基因变异，以及他们是否携带有一个或两个变异基因副本，但测试结果并没有告知被测试者。

The researchers found that for each copy of the high-risk gene the participants possessed⁸, they were, on average, almost 0.9kg heavier.

研究人员发现，平均每一个携带高危基因者比未携带者重约0.9kg。

TThe participants took part in a variety of weight-loss programmes, including diet-based, exercise-based and drug-based approaches.

被测试者参加了各种各样的减肥活动，包括以节食，运动和药物为基础的方法。

"To our surprise, we discovered that carrying the high-risk FTO gene made no difference to your ability to lose weight."

"让我们吃惊的是，我们发现携带高危FTO突变基因并不影响人们减肥的能力。"

"So people lost weight at just the same rate if they had the high-risk version of the FTO gene as if they didn't," said Mathers.

"因此不管人们是否携带该突变基因，他们减肥的速度是一样的。"马瑟斯说。

"There was no link between the type of the intervention⁹ – so whether the people were losing weight through diet or physical activity – and the gene. It seemed to work equally well."

"实验的干扰项和基因没有任何关系，因此，不管基因是怎样的，无论是通过节食还是运动，人们减肥的效果好像都一样的。"

Sex and ethnicity, the authors said, did not affect the rate of weight loss, although they noted¹⁰ there was a lack of participants of Asian descent.

虽然文章作者有提及，该项研究中并没有亚洲居民参与进来，但是他们声称，人的性别与种族对减肥速度并没有什么影响。

The studies, added Mathers, did not show whether carrying the obesity-linked version of the FTO gene affects whether weight loss was sustained, as the longest follow-up time was three years.

而马瑟斯补充说，在该项研究中，实验随访时间最长的是3年，但是也并没有发现携带有肥胖相关的FTO基因对减肥效果有任何影响。

Dr Jude Oben, co-founder of the Obesity Action Campaign and senior lecturer in hepatology at University College London, welcomed the results.

英国对抗肥胖运动的发起人之一，伦敦大学学院肝脏科高级讲师裘德·奥本博士对这项研究结果表示欣慰，

"Obesity is costing the NHS 16bn pounds a year. We at Obesity Action Campaign are alarmed by this."

他说："每年由于肥胖引发的问题需要花英国国民健康保险（NHS）160亿英镑。"

"Obesity causes cancer, diabetes¹¹, heart disease and liver cirrhosis. It is the HIV of our age. It is killing¹² millions of our patients," he said.

"在对抗肥胖运动中，我们对这个现状感到震惊。肥胖会导致癌症、糖尿病、心脏病以及肝硬化，肥胖就是我们这个时代的艾滋病毒，数以百万的人正因此丧命。"

"That this size of study and its robust¹³ statistical¹⁴ methodologies support common sense is great. "

"这项研究通过庞大的调查规模以及详实可靠的统计数据来支撑一个常识，这一点很了不起。"

"It means that general weight loss strategies which must involve the psychological, nutritional¹⁵, physical and policy changes should be developed."

"由此我们可知，我们应该制定出会给人们的心理健康、养生观念、身体健康甚至政府政策带来改变的原则性的减肥策略。"