Active lifestyle helps counter genetic obesity--study
POSTED September 1, 2010 - 16:00 | POSTED BY Neharika Sabharwal
Last edited by Silky Chandvani on September 1, 2010 - 16:35
According to researchers, people who may be genetically predisposed to obesity can reduce their risk by 40 percent and shed those extra pounds by being a little careful and exercising regularly.
Lead author of the study, Ruth Loos from the Medical Research Council's Epidemiology Unit in Cambridge, UK stated, "Our research proves that even those who have the highest risk of obesity from their genes can improve their health by taking some form of daily physical activity.
"It goes to show we're not complete slaves to our genetic makeup and really can make a big difference to our future health by changing our behavior.”
Genetic survey of 20,000 persons performed
In an effort to assess whether participants were predisposed to obesity, the researchers performed a genetic survey of over 20,000 men and women aged between 39 and 79 years.
All the participants gave a DNA sample, which was examined for one or more 12 different genetic markers that were used to calculate their “obesity risk”.
The researchers tested how many of these variants each subject had inherited from either parent.
Most people had inherited 10 to 13 variants, but some had more than 17 while others had fewer than six.
In addition, all the participants were questioned about their physical activity levels at work and elsewhere.
Outcome of the study
The results showed that the variations had an effect on body mass index (BMI), but the score was significantly higher in people who exercised less often.
The researchers stated, "Each additional genetic variant in the score was associated with an increase in BMI equivalent to 445 grams (1.6 ounces) in body weight for a person 1.70 meters (5.7 feet). For physically active individuals, the increase was just 379 grams (13 ounces).”
Each additional variant also elevated the odds of obesity 1.1-fold, but in people who exercised, "the increased odds per variant for obesity risk were 40 percent lower."
Loos stated, "Our finding that living a physically active lifestyle is associated with a 40 per cent reduction in the genetic predisposition to common obesity is an important observation for public health.
"Promoting physical activity, particularly in those who are genetically predisposed, may be an important approach to controlling the current obesity epidemic,” they said.
The findings were published in the journal 'PLoS Medicine.'
