<div><p>While some people can eat as much sugar as possible without gaining weight, there are some who will pack on the pounds just by looking at sugary treats. </p><p>Sometimes our will power just isn't enough to hold us back from eating sugar-laden treats, but you shouldn't be too hard on yourself. </p><p>Turns out your liver is to blame when it comes to your uncontrollable craving for sweet foods. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/g3_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>When we consume sugar, the liver secretes a hormone called FGF21 and it determines the difference between those who have a sweet tooth and those who don't. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>According to a new study by the University of Copenhagen, people with certain variants of the FGF21 gene are 20 percent more likely to opt for sweet food such as candy, ice cream and chocolate.</p><p>"The data, mined from a study of the lifestyles and metabolic health of 6,500 Danish individuals, is a really surprising insight into the potential hormonal basis of the sweet tooth," says Matthew Gillum, an assistant professor of biological sciences who led the team of researchers. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_1450px.jpg 1450w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_1550px.jpg 1550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/o-LIVER-facebook_GH_content_1630px.jpg 1630w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>The findings also raised questions about the role of the liver in controlling what we eat and how that might impact what we eat. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>Gillum and his team of researchers are also trying to determine if the FGF21 gene variant could explain increase alcohol intake and smoking in certain individuals. </p><p>Of course this doesn't mean that you should always blame your choices on your liver but it could explain why it seems to be hard work for some people to stick to a low sugar diet. </p><p>[h/t: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170502142036.htm">ScienceDaily</a>]</p></div>