Researchers from Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain analysed the genetics of about 818 men and women of European ancestry and gathered information about their diet using a questionnaire.
They found that the genes they studied did play a significant role in a person's food choices and dietary habits.
For example, higher chocolate intake and a larger waist size was linked to certain forms of the oxytocin receptor gene, and an obesity-associated gene played a role in vegetable and fibre intake, researchers said.
"Most people have a hard time modifying their dietary habits, even if they know it is in their best interest," said Silvia Berciano from Autonomous University of Madrid.
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"Ours is the first study describing how brain genes affect food intake and dietary preferences in a group of healthy people," she said.
The findings could be used to inform precision-medicine approaches that help minimise a person's risk for common diseases - such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer - by tailoring diet-based prevention and therapy to the specific needs of an individual, researchers said.
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