Physical activity can help reduce the risk of obesity even for those with a genetic predisposition toward being overweight‚ scientists write in PLoS Medicine.
A team of British researchers looked at 20‚430 people to examine the effects of 12 genetic variants associated with a higher risk of obesity. Researchers calculated each subject’s genetic predisposition score‚ which ranged from 0 to 24‚ based on the number of obesity–related variants they had inherited‚ and the volunteers reported their levels of physical activity. Each DNA variant carried a 16 percent increased risk of obesity among those who were sedentary‚ but for people who engaged in at least one hour each day of physical activity‚ the increased risk per variant was only 10 percent. Each obesity–related gene variant in inactive volunteers was associated with another 1.3 pounds in body mass for someone about 5.5 feet tall; however‚ for people who exercised‚ the extra body mass was 0.8 pounds.
Los Angeles Times (08/31/10)
Source: http://www.diabetes.org/news-research/news/diabetes-in-the-news/exercise-can-offset.html
Tags: Exercise, Finds, Genes, Linked, Obesity, Offset, Study