Your inability to turn down that second piece of cake or extra helping of lasagna could be genetic, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Researchers have found a region on one chromosome that acts on a growth-hormone receptor and stimulates hunger. This chromosome, known as chromosome 3, has separate regions that may influence eating behaviors such as restraint and disinhibition (the ability to decline multiple servings of food).

Nanette Steinle, M.D., an assistant professor of endocrinology and nutrition at the University of Maryland reviewed the eating habits and genetic history of 624 Amish individuals, whose well-preserved genealogical records make them excellent subjects for genetic studies.

"If we can confirm that there is a protein on chromosome 3 that regulates appetite, we could pursue treatment for eating behavior disorders or obesity," says Steinle.

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