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Exercise Reduces Effects of Obesity Gene
Obesity Research from the USA, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine journal, has shown that exercise, or periods of vigorous activity, can reduce, or even block, the effects of a gene which known to increase the likelihood of obesity. The “obesity gene” is known as the FTO gene. Most people carry only one copy of this gene, but in subjects carrying two copies, obesity is much more likely to occur. However, in a study following a US Amish community, observations revealed that an active lifestyle appeared to remove the obesity risk associated with the FTO gene.
“Our results strongly suggest that the increased risk of obesity due to genetic susceptibility can be blunted through physical activity. Some of the genes shown to cause obesity in our modern environment may not have had this effect a few centuries ago when most people’s lives were similar to that of present-day Amish farmers.” Dr Soren Snitker, lead researcher.
This is not the first study to show that increased phyiscal exercise can greatly reduce the likelihood of obesity. Professor Andrew Hattersley, from Peninsula Medical School in Devon, who also carries out research into the FTO gene, said that this was the second study which suggested that exercise levels could have a bearing on the way this gene had an effect on obesity.
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Once again it appears to be time for improved guidelines and education on both diet and exercise. If we had more intensive exercise taught in schools, then children may be better equiped to overcome the natural tendendcy in some to become obese.
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