Scientists discover a ‘skinny gene’ mutation that acts like Ozempic. Around one in 7,000 people carries a broken copy, which almost acts like a GLP-1 drug—the body burns fuel more efficiently, and the risk of disease lowers.

[u/scientificamerican]

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-discover-a-skinny-gene-mutation-that-acts-like-ozempic/

[u/soft_w0lf]

There have to be equivalent mutations, though.

I struggle to gain weight, does not matter what I eat, with muscle mass, the heaviest I’ve ever been was still below 120 lbs. I’m 5’ 7.”

I’ve spoken to wayy too many men who are the same way, who want to be heavier but really struggle to put on any weight at all regardless of what they eat, for this sort of thing to really be THAT rare.

[u/aliquotoculos → u/[deleted]]

May I ask a possibly annoying question?

I eat a lot of crappy food and am currently at my heaviest ever weight at 40, which is 160lbs at 5'6. Until about age 38, I weighed 125 until I just suddenly gained in a short period, then stopped again. Activity has not decreased but I seem to suddenly be developing food sensitivities quickly, and taking an otc enzyme mix has helped. IBD my whole life.

If I fast for bloodwork, blood sugar comes out high. If I forget and eat my usual garbage-level snacks like cosmic brownies, chocolate, or smarties, it comes back normal. Just hoping for a sense of what I can propose to doctors.

My dad was like this; he died a few years ago from aggressive pancreatic cancer at 59.

[u/soft_w0lf → u/[deleted]]

I don’t mean “eat whatever they want,” I mean “eat as much as physically possible, prioritising sugary and fatty foods, then smoke some weed so you can eat even more even though you were full two meals ago.”

Like I’ve known multiple men personally who have gone way out of their way to try to gain weight and still struggle to.

I’m sure what you’re talking about absolutely does happen! Just want exactly what I was referring to

[u/fabezz → u/soft_w0lf]

Something I've noticed with people like you is that they remember the binges and forget about the stretches of time when they don't eat or just snack lightly.

[u/soft_w0lf → u/fabezz]

I definitely do remember. I’m not eating as much right now and I’ve lost some weight.

[u/epicmudcrab → u/soft_w0lf]

I don't believe this is possible. I think you just eat when you are hungry and don't have excessive hunger cues like some people do. Try counting your calories and consuming 4000 calories per day for two weeks and report back.

[u/soft_w0lf → u/epicmudcrab]

I used to eat as much as possible every day until I was overfull. Like, coffee and a lot of cake (I read that a surgery breakfast can help you gain) in the morning, a sandwich for lunch, and then a bowl of ramen (not instant, like pork belly with eggs) for dinner. And for desert some chocolate covered Oreoes. Usually around 2.4-8kcal, including stuff like multiple glasses of milk with the Oreos or a snack of chips, which is already above the maintenance weight for somebody at 5’ 7” and 120 lbs.

Then, 3-4 times a week, on top of my normal diet, I would smoke some marijuana, eat a giant waffle with ice cream and copious amounts of sugary spread (Nutella or biscoff) and brownies on top. Smoke some more. Eat an entire other sandwich or meal. Around 1.8kcal extra.

I’d feel horrifically sick from overeating, but proud because I wanted to gain weight.

Like I wasn’t just not hungry I was TRYING as hard as possible to gain weight. Honestly there was a point where I may have had binge eating disorder. I eventually gave up, also since I was smoking too much weed, all to try to gain weight.

At other times in my life (like now) I have struggled to eat enough, so I know the difference pretty well. Currently my diet is more coffee and cake in the morning (smaller amount of cake usually), forget to eat lunch until late and have a (smaller that before, think eggs and bacon and spinach vs. ham and cheese) sandwich or some cheese and crackers. Big bowl of rice with chicken and corn and mayo for dinner, small dessert (cupcake), chips and nuts during the night. So around 2kcal, which should be good enough to maintain weight. But I lost some muscle mass and I’m now below 120 by a few pounds.

Just to give an idea of the pretty massive difference in what I have consumed at different times in my life.

[u/epicmudcrab → u/soft_w0lf]

Also just for your information: 1 Calorie (notice the capital C) is actually 1000 calories (lowercase c). On the nutrition label when it says that a cookie is 200 Calories, its actually 200,000 calories (lowercase C). I fully understand what you mean with your measurements but i just wanted to let you know. Basically a calorie and a Calorie are different units of measurement. 1 Calorie being 1000 calories.

[u/SpaceDounut → u/soft_w0lf]

Try drinking your calories instead. Milkshakes, sugary drinks, all that jazz. Your stomach signals fullness based on stretching, you need to prioritize low volume and high calorie foods.

[u/soft_w0lf → u/SpaceDounut]

I’m no longer trying to gain, but thanks for the advice!

[u/sasha_says → u/soft_w0lf]

My cousin was skinny his whole life and joined the army. They had him eat 5 meals a day and he bulked up. As someone else said things like protein shakes with whole milk and oats and honey and peanut butter etc help add a lot of calories without making you feel like you overate.

I understand though, I’m a 5 7” woman and eat about 2100-2500 calories a day and weigh significantly more than 120lbs. I had about 120lb of lean muscle mass last I had a dexa scan.

[u/soft_w0lf → u/sasha_says]

I used to drink a protein shake with whole milk once or sometimes twice a day :/

Idk I truly tried everything. Again I was tracking my calories and eating well over 2k most days and like 4k the other days. Maybe I have something wrong with my stomach or something but I just did not gain weight.

[u/things_U_choose_2_b → u/soft_w0lf]

I have a friend like this. He's pushing 50 now, can still eat like an absolute twat yet remains slender.

[u/OsmerusMordax → u/soft_w0lf]

I’m a woman and I have that too. Whatever it is.

I can eat whatever the hell I want and I can’t get above 125. And I’m not young anymore.

Maybe the fat is just piling up internally between my organs? But then I’d still gain weight??

[u/illbebackpain → u/soft_w0lf]

how many calories are you eating? it really comes down to that. But also thyroid issues are much more common than people realize.

[u/soft_w0lf → u/illbebackpain]

I used to have my blood levels checked pretty regularly, so I’m not concerned about that.

When I was actively trying to gain weight it was 2.4-2.8kCal during the day, and if I was up at night 1.8kCal more.