As different as apples and pears

Scientists have found more than 30 new gene variations linked to obesity and fat in research they say could help explain why some people get so overweight, and why some are apple shaped and some shaped like pears.

An international team of more than 400 scientists from 280 research institutions say their results give more insight into the biological processes that can lead to obesity and may in future help in developing new ways to treat or prevent it.

But they say that while genes do play a role in obesity and weight problems, they stress that genes account for only a fraction of the reason people are overweight with the main culprits being a bad diet and lack of exercise.