How Your Genes Affect Your Fitness and Nutrition
We all have that person in our lives who eats non-stop without worrying about fats or gaining weight. Ever wonder how!
Just like genes affect eye, skin, and hair color, they contribute to one’s fitness and obesity, which justifies why people are differently influenced with exercise and diets. Harvard Health found that each person’s genes play a different role in gaining and losing weight than the others; some are responsible for 25% of the matter, while others hold 80% of the role. Yet, no matter how high the level of control your genes have over your weight, you can follow a diet and exercise regimen to reach your fitness and weight goals.
Genes that affect fitness and weight
There are hundreds of genes associated with different aspects of weight; like appetite, feeling full, Glucose absorption, metabolism, burning calories, and energy use.
Identifying these genes help in following a correspondent diet, and increase the chance of losing and maintaining weight. Some of the weight-related genes include the following:
FTO Gene
It is a fats mass-associated protein found on Chromosome 16, and is related with weight gain; people with this gene have a 30% chance of gaining weight than the others.
MC4R Gene
Melanocortin 4 Receptor gene is an essential factor in metabolism. It controls the amount of energy one consumes out of foods, as well as the feeling of hunger. Some people have a rare kind of this gene making them more susceptible for weight gain.
Ankyrin-B Gene
It is considered a main factor in weight gain as it induces fatty cells glucose absorption causing an increase in cell’s size.
Panx1 Gene
It is also known as Pannexin1, and is responsible for regulating weight and fats accumulation. The presence of this gene increases the risk of obesity.
IRX3 Gene
This gene is associated with the difficulty to lose weight; studies showed that people with the least expression of this gene have a 30% chance of losing weight.
Fortunately, having a high expression of obesity-related genes only increases the risk, and following a healthy diet and exercise regimen can help maintain the desired weight.
What is the genetic fitness test
Nutrition specialists and Genetics scientists have designed a test to chart each person’s fitness genes. It requires a DNA analysis, an understanding of how more than 40 genes affect fitness and nutrition, and a comparative analysis of genetic and environmental data.
This test is considered a first step in identifying each body’s capabilities and the suitable diet and exercise program for it.
Benefits of the genetic fitness test
Genes can tell so much about the body and how it reacts with the environment and the fitness program followed. Some of the benefits of this test include the following:
- It clarifies how to enhance muscle mass and strengthen them by knowing how the body reacts to repetitive exercise. This test gives the personal idea about the suitable type and time of exercise.
- There are several metabolism-enhancing vitamins that boost exercise effects. This test offer an insight on how the body reacts to vitamins and other supplements and which of those should a person take to maintain weight and health.
- Genetic fitness test calculates the body’s susceptibility for injuries and diseases, so a person can alter their lifestyle accordingly; if one is at risk of heart diseases for instance, they can avoid red meats.
- This test demonstrates whether a person is at risk of Insulin deficiency, so they can decrease Carbohydrates consumption.
- There are some foods that certain types of bodies find hard to digest, and lead to laziness and fatigue; a condition called Food Intolerance which stands in the way of weight loss fitness. Knowing what to avoid of food helps setting a diet and boosting exercise.
Each person has a different Resting Metabolic Rate; the amount of calories burnt to survive without movement. Naturally, RMR is high for some people, and low for others. People in the latter group find difficulty in weight loss. This test gives an idea on how to enhance metabolism.
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