The Role of Genetics in Obesity
Memorial Day weekend marks the official beginning of summer—meaning the 3 B’s for many people: BBQs, the beach and bathing suits! For the one in three Americans who are obese and even those who are struggling to lose five pounds, this often means a renewed focus on dieting. Either we experience it firsthand or we know someone who has struggled unsuccessfully to lose weight, trying all the latest fads and exercises.
Tara Parker-Pope recently reported in the popular Well column in the New York Times that a study found that the decline in physical activity in the workplace over the past five decades has greatly contributed to the nation’s weight gain. According to the article, the shift in the types of jobs we perform has led to a decline of about 120 to 140 calories a day in physical activity, which tracks closely to the nation’s weight gain. The report was published in the journal PLoS One.
While sitting in front of computers has definitely contributed to the obesity epidemic, we shouldn’t overlook the role that diet, exercise and interestingly, genetics plays in weight loss. Many people unknowingly diet incorrectly by selecting an approach that is not compatible with their metabolism. My client Interleukin Genetics has developed a scientifically-proven genetic test that identifies genes (via a quick and painless cheek swab) that are known to impact fact and carb metabolism. The test details whether an individual will respond best to a low fat, low carb or balanced diet and based on these results, outlines the best exercise regimen and suggests the most appropriate foods to eat.
Last year, Stanford University presented clinical data at a major medical meeting which demonstrated that individuals who used this test and followed diets based on their gene type lost up to three times more weight than those who followed a diet inappropriate for their genotype.
So bottom line takeaway: while sitting in front of a computer all day may have contributed to the obesity epidemic, we should think of it as only one piece of the puzzle and not overlook the role of exercise, diet and genetics.
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend!
Posted by Lauren Arnold on May 31, 2011 at 9:37 AM
