A “SNP” is a single nucleotide polymorphism. Within a genetically distinct population, i.e. people of a certain ethnicity, religion, or geographic region, there are several versions of the DNA sequence of any given gene that is almost identical, with the exception of one sequence unit at a specific site. This single nucleotide variation occurs in the population at observable frequencies. The Human Genome Project, a multinational collaboration to sequence the entire human genome (the DNA sequence in all 23 human chromosomes), opened the door to the discovery of many of these SNPs, which were present in genes thought to be very important in disease risk. The differences created by a SNP in a gene could give rise to a protein that could either increase or decrease the risk of getting a disease. Establishing the correlation of the frequency of occurrence of a SNP with the risk of getting a specific disease could lead to improvements in the health of an individual at risk, either by recommending specific therapies or changes in lifestyle or diet.

In a ground-breaking study entitled “Variants of the Adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and Adiponectin Receptor 1 (ADIPOR1) Genes and Colon Cancer Risk” (JAMA. 2008 Oct 1;300(13):1523-31), Virginia G. Kaklamani et al found a statistically significant correlation of a SNP in the ADIPOQ gene with incidence of colon cancer in a large cohort of subjects with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. This work is ground-breaking because it is the first published study to establish a real statistical correlation of a SNP based variant of the adiponectin gene with the incidence of colon cancer, after many circumstantial, indirect observations. Ironically, the SNP in the ADIPOQ gene was negatively correlated with colon cancer risk. In other words, individuals with the SNP containing GG or GC (found in 48% of all study participants) at the variant site were 27% less likely to develop colon cancer than those with the more common CC genotype. It is very important to remember, however, that as the authors caution, these results must be confirmed with further studies.

Adiponectin is an adipokine, or a hormone secreted by adipose tissue, that facilitates insulin sensitivity. Paradoxically, as adipose tissue mass increases, adiponectin levels decrease, and this is correlated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is correlated with elevated levels of other proteins, such as C-peptide and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP1) that is linked to increased risk of colon cancer. The results of this study suggest that there may be some identifiable genetic and biochemical connections between obesity, diabetes, and colon cancer.

Metformin, otherwise known as glucophage, is a medication that works to lower elevated blood sugar and help the body process the excess sugar more efficiently. However, if you have the unmitigated gall to eat sweets while taking this medication, you will be punished by having copious diarrhea. I found this out first hand. I guess this is the price I pay for feeding my addiction.

We all know that in this life, there is a price to pay for everything. Supposedly, the metformin I’m taking is helping to lower my blood sugar. So either I get diabetes or I get diarrhea, or I attempt to deprive myself to the point where I am physiologically compelled to binge. This “most appropriate” punishment for those who “dare” to be obese applies also to those taking Xenical, or it’s over the counter version, Alli. If you eat food with excessive fat content while taking these drugs, you will either be sitting on the toilet all day or forced to wear a diaper. So either deprive yourself of the food your brain is screaming at you for, or suffer those consequences. Either way, we are punished for doing what feels natural for us.

Another version of punishment reserved for the fatties amongst us, compliments of the medical establishment, is weight loss surgery. Having your stomach stapled or a lap band put around your stomach internally to restrict the amount of food you can ingest is tantamount to punishing yourself for eating too much. Do you know how violently ill you become if you try to eat more than a few spoonfuls of food after you’ve had this surgery? Bad, bad fattie!! You deserve to be punished for your gluttony and sloth!

The same woman who prescribed the metformin for me gave me a scientific paper to read, by a prominent childhood obesity expert, who questions whether the obesity “epidemic” is based on gluttony and sloth! His take is that children are not at all in control of their nutritional environment, so they are innocent of these cardinal sins. However, what is he saying about the adults? I wonder if the woman who prescribed the metformin for me and gave me this article to read is attempting on a subconscious level to tell me that I am gluttonous and slothful.

If one searches PubMed for articles with the word “obesity” in the title and “gluttony” in the Title or Abstract, 12 papers come up! This proves that there is as much anti-obesity bias amongst the most prominent academic obesity researchers as there is in the general public. Most of these articles attempt to convey that the popular view of fat people as gluttonous and slothful is wrong, and that scientific progress is providing more and more evidence to combat this hideous notion. However, I believe they need to use these words because they are trying very hard to convince themselves of this. After all, from the moment they were born, they were immersed in the same western culture which has held absolute contempt for fat individuals, and it is therefore an intractable part of their consciousness.

There is no need to include incite-ful (no pun intended) words, such as gluttony and sloth, in any publication written to present scientific data in an objective manner. These words are included in scientific publications in order to attract the attention of those (read: everyone in western society, including fat people) who have a strong, unfavorable gut reaction (again, no pun intended) to fat people and obesity.