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Blame Your Lab's Obesity On Genes, New York Times Report Says

Labrador retrievers have a bad reputation as insatiable chow hounds, but it’s not their fault, scientists say, according to a report by The New York Times.

Labrador retrievers' tendency towards obesity can be blamed on genes, according to a recent scientific study.

Labrador retrievers' tendency towards obesity can be blamed on genes, according to a recent scientific study.

Photo Credit: Courtesy flickr user pmarkham

The breed’s tendency toward obesity could be blamed on their genetic makeup, The New York Times story said .

A recent study of 310 Labrador retrievers found many of them were missing a gene that both regulates appetite and helps them sense how much body fat they are storing, The New York Times reported.

Just like humans with rare disorders, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, the dogs have a chronic feeling of hunger and will gobble up pretty much anything within reach, The New York Times story said.

To read the full The New York Times story, click here.

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