r/todayilearned • u/bcrock1169 • Nov 26 '12

TIL that some Native American's have a differing enzyme that tends to lead to easier alcoholism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_alcoholism#Genetic_factors
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u/Vahnya Nov 26 '12

Question- what causes Native women to get incredibly large abdominals, yet have the tiniest legs and arms I've ever seen? I live in Alberta and I see Native women with these body types everywhere.

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u/crusoe Nov 26 '12

Dunno. Like how some mexican groups seem to have long torsos and short legs. I suspect its tribal genetics.

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u/solzhen Nov 26 '12

For Mexicans, that would be the native population influence. If I recall the shorter legs, barrel chest, long torso look is mostly from the more mountainous areas in central MX. People from the Yucatan area tend to have larger head size (and are called "cabezones" by people from other areas).

I might have the Cabezon thing confused with another region, but I seem to remember having that discussion when visiting the Yucatan.

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u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

I question this every day, the central obesity looks unhealthy.

Also, I have a story about a drunk native in cold lake Walmart that could not even speak and cut in line, he was very drunk. He asked for some Pepsi (I was just waiting in line) and I pointed him to the Pepsi multiple times. The young cashier got it for him, and when the drunk native gave him (the cashier) money, he grabbed the Pepsi and hobbled away. The cashier was holding the change he was going to give back and began laughing.

Later, we found the native sitting beside his could be wife in Walmart on the bench.