Your preference for sweet or fatty foods could be influenced by certain gene variants, according to new research. People with gene variants that affect these inclinations may also be at a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes, researchers found.
The data analysis, which was presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting (and has not yet been published in a medical journal), is one of the largest genetic association studies for taste preferences ever conducted.
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“Genetics can influence taste receptors, reward pathways, appetite regulation, and how satisfying certain foods feel,” says Scott Keatley, RD, a dietitian-nutritionist …. “Epigenetics, which refers to changes in how genes are turned on or off without changing the DNA sequence itself, may also shape these preferences through factors such as early nutrition, stress, sleep, and long-term eating habits.”
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Overall, experts stress that people have options when it comes to changing dietary habits and health. “Having a genetic predisposition is not the same as having a predetermined outcome,” Keatley says. “Even when genetics play a role, lifestyle remains the strongest tool for changing long-term health risk.”
