On Oct. 8, 2024, a team of University of Essex researchers found that the secret to losing weight could all be down to a combination of 14 ‘skinny genes.’ The researchers found those with more of the genes slimmed the most across eight weeks. The research showed that 62 per cent of the dropped kilograms were linked to the gene and 37 per cent linked to exercise and lifestyle factors.

People with the most markers lost up to 5kg during the study and people without them dropped an average of 2kg. The study found the PARGC1A gene that encodes PGC-1-a was key to weight loss and present in the participants who lost the most weight. With the research showing that 62 per cent of the dropped kilograms were linked to the gene and 37 per cent linked to exercise and lifestyle factors.

The study found that people drop twice as much weight when they ran for half an hour three times a week. The study was published in Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, and builds on a previous Essex study which showed running performance was also linked to genetics.