In the early '60s, canned corn beef and keg beef were the most popular proteins.  Both had fat content that was just off the charts...hard to describe.  These meats were favorites at the huge Sunday meals where the biggest pieces of fat went to the favored people in the family.  As the islands turned to money based economy, many people had sedentary type jobs.  They got fat first.  They were also seemingly the wealthiest and looked on as the most fortunate.  So, being fat was something to be proud of and having a fat partner was a source of pride.  Then came lamb flaps and turkey tails to add more fat to the fire.  By the early ‘70s, the population had changed attitudes from lean muscle and hard work being admirable to simply fat is beautiful.  Prior to that, the Samoan people were absolute pictures of health except for Filariasis and Hansens disease.   I think the researchers would be well advised to look into the extent of fat intake by the average Samoan rather than looking for genealogical factors.  Go back to the ‘60s and really study the diets.  And, by the way, I think the first fast food store didn’t open until about 2000.