The secret to losing weight? “Thin genes” doubled weight
The secret to weight loss may lie in a combination of 14 “thin genes,” according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Essex found they could help people lose twice as much weight if they ran for half an hour three times a week.
The team, led by Dr Henry Chang from the Department of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science, found that people with more genes lost more weight over eight weeks.
People with a large number of markers lost up to 5 kg during the study, and those who did not lose them by an average of 2 kg. The study found that the PARGC1A gene, which encodes PGC-1-a, plays a key role in weight loss and was present in participants who lost the most weight.
The study found that 62% of the pounds lost were due to the gene, and 37% were due to exercise and lifestyle.
Despite the results, Dr Chang said lifestyle and diet factors remain vital for weight loss.
According to Dr Chang: “This study has identified some important genes associated with losing jeans inches, but it is important to remember that genes will not do anything without exercise and lifestyle changes as they are all interconnected.
“Without intervention, they will not show their true potential, and then it doesn’t matter what genes you have! “Beyond weight loss, exercise has many benefits, from mental health to cardiovascular health, so I encourage everyone to keep exercising even if you don’t see a difference on the scale.”
The study involved 38 people aged 20 to 40 years.
They were instructed to follow their usual eating and lifestyle habits, not engage in any other exercise, and were weighed before and after the study.
The work, published in the journal Research Quarterly for Fitness and Sport, builds on Dr. Chang’s previous research, which showed that running performance is also linked to genetics.
Chang hopes the research will allow governments, companies and individuals to better tailor public health responses.
“If we can better understand an individual’s specific genetic profile, we hope this will lead to better and more effective interventions to improve health outcomes,” Dr. Chang added.
LINK