Thanks to high school biology class, it’s not a mystery why we look like our parents. Genetics play a big role in our body types, which can be a comforting and daunting thought. Knowing where and how we put on weight allows us to feel less discouraged when trying to lose weight, as we are prepared for that to be a problem area. However, it also causes us to be discouraged when that stubborn fat won’t go away.

Women’s bodies are more prone to genetic variations than men. Studies show that several genetic mutations could easily explain why some people are more prone to obesity.

Ladies, if you are thinking right now that its not fair that you get all of the body image problems, men are plagued by genetically predetermined baldness, so there is a trade-off.

There are also those fruits many women use to describe their body types: the apple and the pear. Apple-shaped women carry their fat in their mid-sections and pear-shaped women carry more fat in their thighs and hips.

Unfortunately apple-shaped women, according to studies, are more likely to develop diabetes and heart disease, even if they aren’t obese. This may not seem fair, but with scientists being able to identify genes, they can hopefully find ways to turn these genes off and prevent obesity.

So thank your parents for the life they have given you, and hopefully not be too angry about the body type they bestowed upon you. Remember those teenage years, you’ve already gotten back at your parents.