WHY ARE SAMOANS BIG?
Rugby (union and league) and American football are HUGE in Samoa. It’s no wonder that codes that require such brute force and players with an intimidating presence are so popular in a country populated by people with large body types. But just why are Samoans big?
The reason, it turns out, is genetically based.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, during the course of studying the genomes of 5000 Samoans, discovered a single gene, called CREBRF, that enhances a person’s obesity risk by upwards of 40 per cent by more efficiently storing fat and releasing less energy. Astoundingly, 40% of Samoans who participated in the study, had this gene. Apparently, this gene is rarely found in European and African populations and at very low levels in East Asian populations.
This genetic variant no doubt came in very handy when ancient Samoans endured food scarcity at sea while discovering and settling surrounding islands. Despite the lack of readily available food, they could survive for longer by having greater fat stores to draw on.
Now that Samoans don’t have the evolutionary need for this gene, it is more difficult for them to manage their weight in the calorie-rich world in which they live. Diet and physical exercise are critical determinants of a person’s body weight but even more so when your genetics aren’t on your side.
This one: Why are Samoans big?
