British scientists have found that people with a tweaked gene in their carb digesting enzyme may be at a higher risk of obesity.

This confirms that dietary advice may need to be more tailored to an individual’s digestive system based on whether they have the genetic predisposition and necessary enzymes to digest different foods. Researchers at King’s College London and Imperial College suggests that salivary amylase plays a significant role in breaking down carbohydrates in the mouth at the start of the digestion process.