Prognosis
A Rare Genetic Aversion to Sweets Could Be Key to Fighting Obesity
An anomaly in the way some people process fructose could help find new drugs for diseases linked to weight.
For a lucky few people in the world, weight will never be a source of worry.
People who have a rare genetic mutation called essential fructosuria lack the primary enzyme needed to metabolize fructose, a natural sugar found in honey, fruits and vegetables. No ill consequences have been linked to the defect, save for an aversion to sweets, and it appears to have a significant benefit: Those who have it seem to be at little risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes or serious liver ailments.