Western scheduled for alcohol

Updated July 14, 2011, at 13: 26 GMT obesity levels have risen considerably in many Western countries from the Western 1970s could be genetically programmed to consume fatty foods and alcohol rather than the of this, say the researchers.

The University of Aberdeen scientists say a switch gene - DNA that activates genes or off inside cells - regulates appetite and thirst.

The study suggests that it is also linked to depression.

Dr Alasdair MacKenzie recognized that it would not stop the westward adapt to your lifestyle.

Obesity levels have increased much in many Western countries since the 1970s.

Dr MacKenzie, who lead the study team, told BBC Scotland found that Europeans were inclined more to eat fatty foods and alcohol - but that people in the East could finish with the same problems if adaptation to a new culture.

Continue reading the story main nutrition, values are often by the number of kilocalories a food but simply as caloriesThe recommended daily calories is 2000 for women and 2,500 for men (NHS selections) factors that influence heating include the serving size, the energy density and the number of meals, snacks and beverages consumed each dayScientists in Kosterlitz Center University said the switch controls the galanin gene.

Dr MacKenzie said: "the switch controls the areas of the brain that allows us to select what food we like to eat and if you turn on too is more likely to crave fatty foods and alcohol."

"The fact that the weaker switch is more often in Asians compared with Europeans suggests that they are less inclined to select these options."

"These results give us a European look in the first years of life where brewery and dairy products were important sources of calories during the winter months."

"Thus, a preference for foods with an alcohol content and higher fat would have been important for survival."

"The negative effects of alcohol and fat that we see today there would be both mattered then as life expectancy were between 30 and 40 years".

"Emotional state"

He explained: "is possible in winter with the weaker switch persons can not have both survived in Europe such as those with the strongest switch and thus Western have evolved to encourage a high fat and rich in alcohol from the diet".

Dr MacKenzie added: "Galanin is also produced in an area of the brain called the amygdala which controls the fear and anxiety."

"So it will changing levels of galanin in the amygdala have an effect on the emotional state of the individual." "Intriguingly, the switch was also active in the amygdala."

The study is being published in the journal of Neuropsychopharmocology.

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