Obesity: Gene discovery suggests some people are hardwired to overeat
Ian Sample
The Guardian, Monday December 15 2008
The discovery of six genes that raise the risk of obesity highlights the role of the brain in making people more likely to overeat
Read the article here.
1. KEY WORDS – PART 1
Match the words and the definitions
highlight, obesity, inherit, combat, hardwired, crucial, behaviour, digest, tissue, confirm, overeat, gene, satiate
1. biologically or genetically predetermined, rather than resulting from the effects of experience or environment
2. way of acting
3. change in the stomach and bowels
4. central, critical; essential, important, decisive
5. fight
6. emphasize, stress, underline
7. fatness, overweight
8. group of cells in a body
9. units at specific points on the chromosomes
10. eating too much
11. having had enough or more than enough
12. be left, receive property, title etc.
13. strengthen assure
2. KEY WORDS – PART 2
Fill the gaps using the key words from KEY WORDS – PART 1.
1. Parents often struggle with their children’s ____________________.
2. Children are said to be _____________ for empathy.
3. Overweight and _______________ are abnormal and are major risk factors for many chronic diseases.
4. Lymphoid ________________ is the part of the body's immune system that helps protect it from bacteria and other foreign entities. (MedicineNet.com)
5. How long does it take to ___________ food?
3. LISTENING
Watch this video about Ramona and answer the questions below.
1. How much did Ramona weigh before taking part in the program?
2. How much does she weigh now?
3. What would she have for breakfast before taking part in the program?
4. What would she have for lunch before taking part in the program?
5. According to Dr Betsy Pheffer what is the program about (mention at least three things)?
6. What happens if you have soda and a lot of sugar in the morning?
7. What did Ramona stop eating and drinking?
4. HAVE FUN
Calculate your BMI here.
Read more for the answers.
ANSWERS
1. KEY WORDS – PART 1
1. hardwired
2. behaviour
3. digest
4. crucial
5. combat
6. highlight
7. obesity
8. tissue
9. gene
10. overeat
11. satiate
12. inherit
13. confirm
2. KEY WORDS – PART 2
1. behaviour
2. hardwired
3. obesity
4. tissue
5. digest
3. LISTENING
1. 182.2 pounds
2. 138 ponds
3. cereals and a lot of sugar
4. pizza, sandwich, soda, cookies, cake
5. Show children that exercise and movement can be fun. It’s also about knowing what to do when you are in the supermarket, when you are presented with fast foods, learning what to do with labels.
6. You’ll be hungry all day.
7. soda, sugar, white flour
