Introduction

Scientists have found some evidence that our weight is not just controlled by what we eat. Research published in the journal PLOS Genetics, explains how twin studies have shown that about 40% of the variation in a person’s weight is influenced by their genes. Neil and Dan talk about diets and serve you a tasty helping of vocabulary.

This week's question

What's the name of the popular diet that involves avoiding eating carbohydrates but involves eating as much fat and protein as they want? Is it…

a) The Mediterranean diet

b) The Atkins diet

c) The Graham diet

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Transcript

Note: This is not a word for word transcript

Neil

Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Neil and joining me for this is Dan.?

Dan

Hello.?

Neil

And can I say Dan, you're looking very slim – it looks like your diet is working!?

Dan

This is my normal figure – and I have not been on a diet. But it looks like you've actually put on a bit of weight.?

Neil

Well I may have a little?paunch?– or a fat stomach – but didn't you know that it's out of my control? Some of this has to do with my genes – not the ones I wear – but the cells in my body that control my development. That's what we'll be discussing in this programme.?

Dan

However our audience might describe themselves – tubby and overweight or thin and?skinny, which means very thin – they're more than welcome to join us on this voyage of discovery. So let's start with answering a question.?

Neil

What's the name of the popular diet that involves avoiding eating carbohydrates and in which you can eat as much fat and protein as you like? Is it…

a)???the Mediterranean diet,

b)???the Atkins diet, or

c)???the Graham diet??

Dan

I've heard of the Atkins diet, so I'll say b).?

Neil

Well, you’ll have to wait a bit to find out. But Dan, you may have also heard of a crash diet – that's where someone makes a rapid change to the types of food they eat with the aim of losing weight quickly.?

Dan

Yes, I know that eating this way can be risky for your health and they don't always work.?

Neil

That's true and now scientists have some evidence that shows that our weight is not just controlled by what we eat. So it might be quite natural for someone to be thin or fat - it's all to do with their genes. Research published in the journal PLOS Genetics, explains how twin studies have shown that about 40% of the variation in a person’s weight is affected by their genes. And also, why thin, but healthy people have genetic advantages in terms of maintaining a healthy weight.??

Dan

So that means that losing weight isn't just about having?willpower?– that's controlling your own behaviour to achieve something – it's actually about something that's out of our control??

Neil

Yes, possibly. Let's hear from the study's author, Sadaf Farooqi, who is Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the University of Cambridge, and has been a pioneer in the genetics of obesity for more than twenty years. Obesity, of course, is where someone is very overweight, in a way that is dangerous for their health. Here she is speaking on the BBC World Service programme, Health Check. What does she say might be one of the benefits of this research for people who are overweight??

Sadaf Farooqi, Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the University of Cambridge

It actually can be very helpful in trying to get them to?come to terms?with some of the difficulties they may be having but also help them engage with help and support to try and encourage weight loss… I hope one of the main outcomes of this work might be, to a little bit, to start to get people thinking about that. Because people are very?judgemental?and tend to think, look if I can stay thin and control my weight why can't you? And what I would say to that is, well the data now shows that you're probably quite lucky in terms of the genes that you have rather than just being either morally superior or having better?willpower.?

Neil

Some interesting thoughts there. For people who are overweight, this research can help them?come to terms?with the struggle they may be having to lose weight. When you come to terms with something, you start to accept the difficult or unpleasant situation you are in.?

Dan

So I suppose she means accepting that if you're trying to shed a few pounds unsuccessfully, it's not all your fault. And it may stop people being so?judgemental?– that's so quick to criticise people based on their own beliefs.?

Neil

A slim person might say, "Well, I ate less and lost weight, so why can't you?" – and now we know things aren't quite that simple. You are just lucky to have the right genes but it doesn't make you 'morally superior'.?

Dan

So it's not just about having willpower.?

Neil

This research is much more detailed of course than we have time to explain here but for someone who is overweight, will they feel defeated??

Dan

Absolutely not, according to Professor Farooqi. For people who are obese, this research is helpful. Not only should it give them hope, it could lead to the develop medicines to help them.?

Neil

But as genes only play a part in our size and weight, we should all eat a healthy diet and do some exercise. And there is always new research about the best things to do and the right things to eat.?

Dan

Recently, research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, said that?bursts?of high intensity interval training may be more effective for weight loss than longer less intense workouts. A?burst?is a sudden and short increase in something.?

Neil

Even if diets don't help you lose weight – eating the balanced diet can certainly keep you healthy and make you feel good. And as I'm talking about diets, why don't I answer the question I asked you earlier? What's the name of the popular diet in which you should avoid eating carbohydrates but you can have as much fat and protein as you want? Is it…

a)???the Mediterranean diet,

b)???the Atkins diet, or

c)???the Graham diet??

Dan

I said the Atkins diet.?

Neil

And that is correct, well done. This well-known low-carb diet was developed by the American physician and cardiologist Robert Atkins in the 1960s. Others low-card diets are available!?

Dan

Neil, I think it's time we reminded ourselves of some of the vocabulary we've discussed today.?

Neil

Good idea. Let's talk about?paunch?– another name for a fat stomach that men like me – and you – have.?

Dan

Speak for yourself! I'm closer to?skinny?– a word to describe someone looking very thin and sometimes ill. Our next word was?willpower. If you have willpower, you can control your own behaviour to achieve something.?

NeilThe next phrase,?come to terms?with something means you start to accept the difficult or unpleasant situation you are in.?

Dan

If you are?judgemental,you are quick to criticise people based on your own beliefs.?

Neil

And finally, we mentioned a?burst?of high intensity interval training. A?burst?is a sudden and short increase in something.

Dan

Well we've had a burst of vocabulary there and it's time to say goodbye. Please join us next time.?

Neil

And of course don't forget our website, bbclearningenglish.com. Goodbye.?

Dan

Bye!

Vocabulary

paunch

fat stomach that mostly men have?

skinny

very thin?

willpower

controlling your own behaviour to achieve something?

come to terms?(with something)

start to accept the difficult or unpleasant situation you are in?

judgemental

quick to criticise people based on your own beliefs?

burst

sudden and short increase in something

雙語版Transcript

Neil:?Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Neil and joining me for this is Dan.

大家好，歡迎來到六分鐘英語。我是尼爾，這次和我搭檔的是丹。

Dan:?Hello.

大家好。

Neil:?And can I say Dan, you're looking very slim - it looks like your diet is working!

丹，我能說你看起來很苗條嗎？看起來你節(jié)食有效??！

Dan:?This is my normal figure - and I have not been on a diet. But it looks like you've actually put on a bit of weight.

這是我的正常身材，而且我沒有節(jié)食。但是看起來你的重量確實增加了一些。

Neil:?Well I may have a little?paunch?- or a fat stomach - but didn't you know that it's out of my control? Some of this has to do with my genes - not the ones I wear - but the cells in my body that control my development. That's what we'll be discussing in this programme.

嗯，我可能有點大肚子——或者胖乎乎的肚子，但是你不知道這不是我能控制的嗎？其中一些與我的基因有關——不是我穿的牛仔褲（此genes非彼jeans）——而是我體內控制發(fā)育的細胞。這就是我們今天節(jié)目要討論的。

Dan:?However our audience might describe themselves - tubby and overweight or thin and skinny, which means very thin - they're more than welcome to join us on this voyage of discovery. So let's start with answering a question.

不過，我們的聽眾可能會形容自己——胖嘟嘟的，超重的，或者瘦瘦的，瘦骨嶙峋的，瘦骨嶙峋是指非常非常瘦——他們非常樂意加入我們的探索之旅。節(jié)目開始之前，我們先來提一個問題。

Neil:?What's the name of the popular diet that involves avoiding eating carbohydrates and in which you can eat as much fat and protein as you like? Is it... a) the Mediterranean diet, b) the Atkins diet, or c) the Graham diet?

不吃吃碳水化合物，想吃多少脂肪和蛋白質就吃多少脂肪和蛋白質的這種流行飲食法的名字是什么？是a)地中海飲食法，b)阿特金斯飲食法，還是c)格雷厄姆飲食法？

Dan:?I've heard of the Atkins diet, so I'll say b).

我聽說過阿特金斯飲食法，所以我選b)。

Neil:?Well, you'll have to wait a bit to find out. But Dan, you may have also heard of a crash diet - that's where someone makes a rapid change to the types of food they eat with the aim of losing weight quickly.

嗯，你得等一會兒才能知道答案。但是丹，你可能也聽說過速成減肥法——也就是人們?yōu)榱丝焖贉p肥而迅速改變所吃食物的種類。

Dan:?Yes, I know that eating this way can be risky for your health and they don't always work.

是的，我知道這樣吃會危害你的健康，并且并不總是有效。

Neil:?That's true and now scientists have some evidence that shows that our weight is not just controlled by what we eat. So it might be quite natural for someone to be thin or fat - it's all to do with their genes. Research published in the journal PLOS Genetics, explains how twin studies have shown that about 40% of the variation in a person's weight is affected by their genes. And also, why thin, but healthy people have genetic advantages in terms of maintaining a healthy weight.

這是真的，而且現在科學家有一些證據表明，我們的體重不僅僅是由我們吃什么控制的。因此，一個人瘦或者胖可能是很自然的——這都和他們的基因有關。發(fā)表在《公共科學圖書館·遺傳學》雜志上的一項雙生研究表明，一個人體重中約有40％的變化受到基因的影響。還有為什么苗條又健康的人在保持健康體重方面有遺傳優(yōu)勢。

Dan:?So that means that losing weight isn't just about having willpower - that's controlling your own behaviour to achieve something - it's actually about something that's out of our control?

所以那就意味著減肥不僅僅是意志力的問題——控制自己的行為來達到某個目標——它實際上是我們無法控制的事情？

Neil:?Yes, possibly. Let's hear from the study's author, Sadaf Farooqi, who is Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the University of Cambridge, and has been a pioneer in the genetics of obesity for more than twenty years. Obesity, of course, is where someone is very overweight, in a way that is dangerous for their health. Here she is speaking on the BBC World Service programme, Health Check. What does she say might be one of the benefits of this research for people who are overweight?

是的，有可能。我們聽聽該研究的作者薩達夫·法魯克的觀點。她是劍橋大學代謝與醫(yī)學教授，二十多年來一直是肥胖遺傳學方面的開拓者。肥胖，當然是指某人超重，在某種程度上那對他們的健康有害。這是她在BBC環(huán)球廣播Health Check節(jié)目上的講話。她說這項研究對超重人群的好處之一是什么？

Sadaf Farooqi, Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the University of Cambridge

薩達夫·法魯克，劍橋大學代謝與醫(yī)學教授

It actually can be very helpful in trying to get them to come to terms with some of the difficulties they may be having but also help them engage with help and support to try and encourage weight loss... I hope one of the main outcomes of this work might be, to a little bit, to start to get people thinking about that. Because people are very judgemental and tend to think, look if I can stay thin and control my weight why can't you? And what I would say to that is, well the data now shows that you're probably quite lucky in terms of the genes that you have rather than just being either morally superior or having better willpower.

這項研究實際上非常有助于讓大家接受自己可能遇到的一些困難，同樣也能幫助他們獲得幫助和支持，嘗試并鼓勵他們減肥……我希望這項工作的主要成果之一是讓人們開始思考這個問題。因為人們很愛評判別人，并傾向于認為如果我能保持苗條，控制體重，你為什么不能呢？對此我想要說的是，好吧，現在的數據表明，在基因方面你或許相當幸運，而不僅僅是道德上有優(yōu)越或者意志力更強。

Neil:?Some interesting thoughts there. For people who are overweight, this research can help them come to terms with the struggle they may be having to lose weight. When you come to terms with something, you start to accept the difficult or unpleasant situation you are in.

那是一些有趣的想法。對于超重的人來說，這項研究可以幫助他們接受自己減肥或許會存在困難。當你接受某事時，你開始接受困難或接受你所處的不愉快的處境。

Dan:?So I suppose she means accepting that if you're trying to shed a few pounds unsuccessfully, it's not all your fault. And it may stop people being so judgemental - that's so quick to criticise people based on their own beliefs.

所以我想她的意思是，如果你想減肥卻沒有成功，那也不全是你的錯。它可能會讓人們不再那么武斷，不再那么快地根據自己的信仰去批評別人。

Neil:?A slim person might say, "Well, I ate less and lost weight, so why can't you?" - and now we know things aren't quite that simple. You are just lucky to have the right genes but it doesn't make you 'morally superior'.

一個苗條的人可能會說：“嗯，我吃得少了，體重就減輕了，那你為什么不能呢？”——現在我們知道事情沒有那么簡單。你只是幸運地擁有了對的基因，但這并不會讓你變得“道德高尚”。

Dan:?So it's not just about having willpower.

所以這不僅僅是意志力的問題。

Neil:?This research is much more detailed of course than we have time to explain here but for someone who is overweight, will they feel defeated?

這項研究當然比我們在這里解釋的要詳細得多，但是對于超重的人來說，他們會感到挫敗嗎？

Dan:?Absolutely not, according to Professor Farooqi. For people who are obese, this research is helpful. Not only should it give them hope, it could lead to the develop medicines to help them.

根據法魯克教授的說法，絕對不會。對于肥胖的人來說，這項研究是有幫助的。這不僅會給他們帶來希望，還可能導致人們研發(fā)藥物來幫助他們。

Neil:?But as genes only play a part in our size and weight, we should all eat a healthy diet and do some exercise. And there is always new research about the best things to do and the right things to eat.

但是由于基因只對我們的體型和體重起作用，我們大家都應該健康飲食和做一些運動。而且總有關于最佳行為和正確飲食的新研究。

Dan:?Recently, research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, said that bursts of high intensity interval training may be more effective for weight loss than longer less intense workouts. A burst is a sudden and short increase in something.

最近，發(fā)表在《英國運動醫(yī)學雜志》上的一項研究稱，間歇性高強度訓練可能比長時間低強度訓練更有助于減肥?！癰urst”是指某物突然而短暫的增加。

Neil:?Even if diets don't help you lose weight - eating the balanced diet can certainly keep you healthy and make you feel good. And as I'm talking about diets, why don't I answer the question I asked you earlier? What's the name of the popular diet in which you should avoid eating carbohydrates but you can have as much fat and protein as you want? Is it... a) the Mediterranean diet, b) the Atkins diet, or c) the Graham diet?

即使飲食不能幫助你減肥，均衡飲食也能讓你保持健康，讓你感覺良好。既然我正在談論飲食，那我何不回答一下我之前問你的問題呢？不吃吃碳水化合物，想吃多少脂肪和蛋白質就吃多少脂肪和蛋白質的這種流行飲食法的名字是什么？是a)地中海飲食法，b)阿特金斯飲食法，還是c)格雷厄姆飲食法？

Dan:?I said the Atkins diet.

我說是阿特金斯飲食法。

Neil:?And that is correct, well done. This well-known low-carb diet was developed by the American physician and cardiologist Robert Atkins in the 1960s. Others low-card diets are available!

回答正確，做得很好啊。這種著名的低碳水化合物飲食法是20世紀60年代由美國內科醫(yī)生和心臟病學家羅伯特·阿特金斯發(fā)明的。其它低卡飲食法也是存在的。

Dan:?Neil, I think it's time we reminded ourselves of some of the vocabulary we've discussed today.

尼爾，我覺得是時候回顧一下我們今天討論的一些詞匯了。

Neil:?Good idea. Let's talk about paunch - another name for a fat stomach that men like me - and you - have.

好主意。讓我們來談談大肚子(paunch)——胖乎乎的肚子的另外一個叫法，像我和你這樣的男人都有。

Dan:?Speak for yourself! I'm closer to skinny - a word to describe someone looking very thin and sometimes ill. Our next word was willpower. If you have willpower, you can control your own behaviour to achieve something.

說的是你自己！我更近乎于極瘦的(skinny)——形容某人看起來很瘦，甚至瘦到有點病態(tài)的一個單詞。下一個詞是“意志力”（willpower）。如果你有意志力，你就能控制自己的行為來實現目標。

Neil:?The next phrase, come to terms with something means you start to accept the difficult or unpleasant situation you are in.

下一個短語“come to terms with something”指的是你開始接受困難或者接受你所處的不愉快的處境。

Dan:?If you are judgemental, you are quick to criticise people based on your own beliefs.

如果你愛評判別人（judgemental），你會快速根據自己的信仰去批評別人。

Neil:?And finally, we mentioned a burst of high intensity interval training. A burst is a sudden and short increase in something.

最后，我們提到了間歇性高強度訓練?！癰urst”是指某物突然而短暫的增加。

Dan:?Well we've had a burst of vocabulary there and it's time to say goodbye. Please join us next time.

好了，我們已經學了大量的詞匯，是時候說再見了。下期節(jié)目再見啊。

Neil:?And of course don't forget our website, bbclearningenglish.com. Goodbye.

當然不要忘記我們的網站bbclearningenglish.com。再見