Global Health Asia-Pacific July 2020 July 2020 | Page 22

Holistic Health Certain exercises help control genetic obesity People predisposed to obesity can conquer the condition Hiking helps reduce weight Regular �ogging is the best exercise to manage obesity, especially in those with a genetic predisposition, according to researchers who looked at the genetics and exercise routines of nearly 20,000 ethnic Chinese adults in Taiwan. The researchers looked at five measures of obesity, including body mass index, body fat percentage, and waist-to-hip ratio, and found �ogging, mountain climbing, walking, and yoga help reduce weight. �urprisingly, the researchers found cycling, stretching, swimming, and the video game Dance Dance Revolution did not counteract the genetic effects of obesity. Obesity is a challenging condition to control because of the link between a person’s genetics and lifestyle. Doctors often recommend exercise, but it’s not clear which are best when genetics make certain people more likely to become obese. The �ational Taiwan �niversity study, published last August, examined the interactions between the sub�ects’ genetics and their exercise routines. Its findings suggest that the impact of genetics can be lessened by several kinds of regular exercise. �revious research also showed similar connections. A 2017 study of 200,000 individuals found that physical activity could reduce the weight-gaining effects of the strongest known genetic risk factor for obesity, the �TO gene, by about 30 percent. The researchers also identified 11 new genetic variants linked to obesity, suggesting that physical activity and other relevant environmental factors should be considered when looking for novel genes. While the analysis confirmed that physical activity reduces the effect of the �TO gene, the underlying cause is still unknown. The scientists from the �nited �tates, Denmark, and Australia suspect that physical activity may affect other genes related to obesity, but to identify these smaller effects, researchers will require larger groups of sub�ects and more precise measurements. �rom a practical standpoint, the findings suggest that physical activity is still vital, even when obesity appears to be predetermined by one’s genes, and could be most beneficial for those who have the hardest time keeping weight off. �The 11 entirely new obesity genes that our study revealed suggest that there will be more, which future studies need to look for,� study leader Dr Mariaelisa �raff, with the �niversity of �orth Carolina, told Global Health Asia-�acific. �What’s needed now is research that takes much bigger and more accurate measurements of physical activity levels to identify novel genes whose effects are either dampened or amplified by exercise. Our study was based on the participants self-reporting their exercise habits, so they were not canvassed ob�ectively.� From a practical standpoint, the findings suggest that physical activity is still vital, even when obesity appears to be predetermined by one’s genes, and could be most beneficial for those who have the hardest time keeping weight off 20 JULY 2020 GlobalHealthAndTravel.com