How This Kiwi Lost 80kg in Less Than Three Years

A new study, published in Nature Genetics today, finds a genetic variation common among Samoans is associated with a 35 per cent higher chance of being obese.

The variation is a mutation on chromosome five, one of 23 pairs of chromosomes found in humans. Of the more than 5000 individual samples, taken from volunteers in Samoa, 7 per cent had two copies of the mutation and another 38 per cent had one copy. The mutation was "virtually nonexistent" in African and European populations and was found to be present at a "very low frequency" among East Asians.

In New Zealand, there were 144,138 Samoans, or 3.6 per cent of the population, at the last Census in 2013. The Ministry of Health 2014/15 annual health survey says about two-thirds of Pacific adults and almost one-third of Pacific children are obese. While it helped explain why 80 per cent of Samoan men and 91 per cent of Samoan women were overweight or obese in 2010, it was not the dominant factor.

"A healthy diet and physical activity are still key to maintaining a healthy weight. Samoans weren't obese 200 years ago," he noted. "The gene hasn't changed that rapidly - it's the nutritional environment that changed that rapidly. Once modern conveniences like motor vehicles and high-calorie foods became prevalent among Samoans, they, like many people around the world, became more prone to obesity."

The study was conducted in Samoa, with the support of the Samoan Government, and analysed samples taken from more than 5000 individuals.

No longer just the 'pretty girls' handbag'

Emmes Ah Young of Auckland has dropped 80kg in just under three years picture. Photo / Supplied / NZ Herald

Having her father die, her dog die and breaking up with her partner were the "wake-up" calls one Auckland woman needed to improve her health and lose weight.

Emmes Ah Young, 33 described herself as having always been that "funny fat girl" among her friends, but later at home, in her bed she'd cry.

"I was always the handbag ... to the pretty girls."

In October 2013 her dog died, in November her father had a fatal heart attack, in December she was single.

Then her doctor told the Samoan woman she'd be just another statistic if nothing changed. Ah Young, who weighed 180kg at the time, said his comments finally "hit home".

"It's been a constant struggle," she said. "Being an Islander, it's hard. You are constantly being cooked meals and if you don't eat, there's something wrong with you."

But Ah Young knew she needed to make changes so as not to follow in the family tradition of diabetes and heart disease.

She recalled a dress made for her when she was at her biggest.

"They had to use 2.5m on my dress ... then they had to extend it, because it wasn't enough," she said.

Losing weight was the "hardest thing" as she had to deal with all her emotional and physical issues.

Ah Young started by walking 30 minutes a day then began to "amp things up", attending a gym and getting a personal trainer.

She cut out the morning bakery run, gave up takeaways and cut out processed food.

"Every now and then I'd have a bad day and I'd go have a donut."

But, today weighing 105kg, Ah Young said she was finally in a "good place".

Photo / Emmes Ah Young Facebook

- NZ Herald