Genetic predisposition to obesity can be reduced by 40 Percent through exercise. This is the latest finding of the research carried out at the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Results of their findings are published in the September 2010 issue of the journal PLoS Medicine.
Knowledge Gained from Research on Genetic Predisposition to Obesity:
- The study was carried out on 20,430 people living in Norwich, UK.
- It involved examination of 12 different genetic variants known to be responsible for the rise in obesity risk.
- The number of genetic variants from parents in each of the participants was found out.
- On average 10-13 variants were inherited by most of the participants with exceptions as high as more than 17 variants and less than 6 in a few.
- The study found that in a person of 1.70 m height, every genetic variant increased the body mass index (BMI) factor by 445g in body weight.
- This effect was more pronounced in physically inactive people than in the active ones.
- In physically active people the rise in body weight was 36 percent lower at 379g per variant.
- Odds associated with obesity were increased by 1.1 fold by every variant.
- In physically active people, these odds were 40 percent less when compared to the physically inactive ones.
- The research emphasizes the need of physical activity in the natural prevention of obesity.
Significance of Research on Genetic Predisposition to Obesity:
4-5 million overweight youths are present in the United States. 70 percent of these adolescents can become obese on reaching adulthood.
But, according a research study published in the April 2010 issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, an hour of exercise by adolescents on regular basis can control weight gain. It holds true even for young children who are genetically at higher risk of becoming obese.
Facts like these can provide a welcome relief for parents and health care professionals who have to deal with the menace of this physical disorder on a daily basis.
