HHS HealthBeat (May 28, 2012)

Fighting fat genes

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health says even people with fat genes can control their weight.

Qubin Qi looked at data on about 12,000 people. He and his colleagues calculated, based on what’s known about genes, the predisposition toward weight – and looked at lifestyles that affect weight.

People with a predisposition added weight if they were sedentary – lots of TV, for instance. But the equivalent of brisk walking for an hour a day cut the predisposition effect in half.

So Qi advises more activity and less sitting:

“Overall, these are very important in prevention of obesity, particularly in people with a high genetic risk.”

The study presented at an American Heart Association meeting was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 29, 2012