Gene variations police the storage of fat

With high-calorie foods at every turn, obesity is rampant in the Western world. Some people, however, just don’t seem to get fat even if they try to put on pounds.

Researchers may have found out why. They’ve uncovered genetic variations controlling a calorie-draining spigot in the body. The variations modulate production of a molecule called uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), which converts calories into heat instead of fat.