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Scientists Find The 'Fat And Happy' Gene

• http://www.businessinsider.com, myhealthnewsdaily

People who had a version of a gene called the FTO gene were 8 percent less likely to have depression, researchers found.

In 2007, scientists discovered this version of the FTO gene was a major contributor to genetic obesity among people of European descent.

The finding "suggests that the FTO gene may have a broader role than initially thought, with an effect on depression and other common psychiatric disorders," the researchers wrote in their study published today (Nov. 20) in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

The researchers said the findings challenge the idea that obesity and depression are generally linked.
 
Some have suggested that obese people become depressed because of their appearance and discrimination, while people with depression may become less active and change their eating habits to cope with their illness.

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