Do you blame bad genes on your shape and weight?
Do you know someone who does?
While there is little doubt that some people tend to store fat more better than others and some people just never seem to put on weight, having a so-called obesity genedoesn’t necessarily doom you to being fat.
Provided you stay active.
A meta-analysis (where they study studies) that included 45 studies of 218,166 adults looked at the effect physical activity had on inheriting a gene associated with fat mass and obesity, also known as the FTO gene or obesity gene.
Researchers found that having the gene increased the risk of being overweight or obese. It also increases your chance of having a higher body mass index, a larger waist circumference and higher body fat percentage.
However, getting some exercise reduces that chance.
Being physically active had an effect on the FTO gene, reducing obesity risk by an average of 27% compared with people who were sedentary.
In reviewing the studies, researchers set the bar fairly low for what they considered physical activity. People were deemed inactive if they had a sedentary job and did less than one hour of moderate to vigorous activity per week, or their level of physical activity was in the lowest 20% among the participants in the study.
The researchers conclude that physical activity is a particularly effective way of controlling body weight in individuals with a genetic predisposition towards obesity. This goes against the belief that genetics determine the outcome. They might make it harder for you, but don’t destine you to carry extra body fat and weight for life.
The findings mean you you have much more control over determining your health, fitness and body fat levels.
So if you have been blaming your parents, get moving and get control.
I try to read a few blog posts every morning to pass along to my clients and members at the gym and I’m glad I found this. Not only is it great to hear that physical activity reduced the risk of obesity by 27% in people with the FTO gene, but the fact that people were categorized as physically active if they did more than an hour of exercise a week. I’m sure this will be encouraging news to current and new members with the New Year coming up. I’ll be sure to post a link to this on my Facebook page so they can all read it for themselves. Thanks!
-Laura