Genetics can predispose a person to almost anything. If several members of your family that came before you happen to be obese or overweight, chances are it’s somewhere in your cellular makeup, so you could head down the same road.
But it absolutely does not have to be that way. Genetics can be fought, particularly for conditions where lifestyle plays such a mammoth role as obesity. Nobody should give up hope, because proper nutrition and sufficient exercise can go a long way to keeping body weight down.
In a new piece of research, investigators looked at 20,430 adults and focused on genetic variants known to increase the risk of obesity. Most people had inherited 10 to 13 of these variants from their parents, but some had more than 17, while others had five or less. The participants also provided information about their levels of physical activity.
Here is what they found. Overall, each additional obesity-related genetic variant was linked with an increase in body mass index (BMI) equivalent to just under one pound for a person who stands five feet, six inches tall. (BMI is a measurement that takes into account a person’s height and weight.)
But, they found the genetic effect was far greater in sedentary people than in active people. People who were keeping a physically active lifestyle had a general increase of 0.84 pounds per genetic risk factor. That figure is 36% less than the increase of 1.3 pounds per risk factor for people who were inactive. This shows that people who exercise can indeed provide themselves with a significant shield against genetic obesity.
Researchers also found that each additional obesity variant increased the odds of obesity by 1.1-fold. Again, good news for the exercising bunch. This risk was 40% lower for active people compared to inactive people.
For anyone, no matter what predicament genetics puts you in, adopting a healthy lifestyle can and will offer significant health benefits. This is the latest look at many studies that have identified the vital nature of exercise and the prevention of obesity.
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