Why might it be a bad idea to think of obesity as a genetic defect?
A) Some people lack adipose cells altogether but still become obese.
B) Obesity is too rare.
C) All people seem to be equally sensitive to leptin, a chemical secreted by fat cells.
D) The genes leading to fat storage may have conferred a survival advantage: They were assets for our ancestors, not defects.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The genes that promote fat storage were likely beneficial for our ancestors, helping them survive periods of food scarcity by storing energy as fat. This historical perspective suggests that what we now consider a genetic predisposition to obesity may have been an evolutionary advantage, rather than a defect.

Why Might It Be a Bad Idea to Think of Obesity