New Research on the US Amish community demonstrates that there is a “fat gene” AND that you can combat it with vigorous exercise.
The complex interaction between our genes and lifestyles can mean that some people are more likely to pack on pounds than others.
Although it is not completely understood, several genetic variants have been linked to obesity, but there isn’t just “one” gene.
However, the most common of these is FTO. Half of all people in Europe carry either one or two copies of it.
The short of it is that people who carry two copies of the FTO gene significantly increases the chances of becoming obese.
Scientists believe about 30 percent of white people of European ancestry have this variant, including the Amish, and that may partly explain why so many people are overweight.
The good news is a recent study carried out among the US Amish community found an active lifestyle appeared to remove this risk.
This study from the University of Maryland supports other research which suggests that a person’s level of exercise may help determine whether their genetic makeup will contribute to obesity.
The Research
The researchers looked at 704 Amish men and women, chosen because of that community’s relative genetic “purity,” with members generally able to trace their ancestry back for 14 generations to early settlers from Europe.
Volunteers were fitted with “accelerometers,” measuring their precise movements over a period of time.
They found that while the expected link between the number of copies of FTO carried and increased body mass index could be seen in less active volunteers, that link was broken once in those who recorded high levels of activity - equivalent to three to four hours of moderately intensive activity.
Dr Soren Snitker, who led the research, said:
“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.”
So what does this mean for us with weight loss goals?
I think it means that if you have a propensity to be overweight, it would be a good idea to exercise regularly. This study suggests three hours a day!!! But this is moderate activity.
It would be interesting if they do some more research to get us the minimum amount and type of exercise which would negate this gene - but until then it is just speculation.
If you have a hard time getting motivated to exercise - we have a session on Dr. Temes’ hypnosis sessions that pretty much makes it automatic that you work out at least one time a day.
My mom never exercised in her life until she started the program 3 years ago, and now does at least some physical activity 6 days a week.
Sorry for the plug, but it just made sense - read more about it here:
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Interesting research. I always thought it was more environmental than genetic, and exercising and changing your lifestyle is pretty environmental too. I think exercising as much as Amish farmers would definitely reverse or improve a lot of problems we’re genetically prone to. Either way it’s great to know hypnosis can get people motivated to work out.
I read this article! I am so fascinated by genetics and what interpreting the code will mean for all of humanity! And I also believe in genes that predispose people to things… like fat… the more research that’s done, the closer to the causal link they’ll be (until they eventually find it, of course!) What this will mean is that although there is nothing you can do about having the gene, you will still be able to control it through exercise and diet. The key is to get and keep motivated, and I know a certain program that’s readily available that’ll do THAT trick!
You always have such interesting articles here. I have been using your hypnosis weight loss program and have been very pleased with the results. Now to get motivated to exercise brings a whole new dimension to my weight loss program as this is one area I have a difficult time with. Thanks for having such great products available, and I am going to check out the hypnosis motivation for exercise as soon as I hit submit.
I knew it was my genes all along!!!!! I guess that means I need to start working out more. I am going to check out Dr. Temesz program. If it can make me start to work out every day, that would be a miracle. And worth it.
I’m from the school that says weight loss or gain is enviormental. But the idea of being able to control this to any degree with hypnosis sounds very interesting.
It would be so wonderful to blame my condition on genes! Sure, there isn’t one gene that does it, but a combination of them, and I’m sure I have the combination that makes a person fat! I’m doing GREAT on my exercise regime, and look forward to all the assistance I can get - be it hypnosis or genetics!
The New York Times had an interesting article recently about “walking desks” now being installed in corporate offices to allow people to walk as they work. (Sounds like they’re especially used during long phone calls - I’m not sure that I could type while walking.) People were losing weight without additional effort. It would be interesting to see if that kind of slow, steady walking would overcome the effects of the FTO gene.
This is very interesting!
I don’t believe you can change or modify a fat gene anymore then you can change a blue eye gene. At least at this point in time, however using hypnosis to modify “behavior” appears to make logical sense. In
I like the comparison with the Amish farmers. I’m quite sure that, like in every ever-changing organism, our bodies (and genes) adapted to all the new foods and chemicals they developed to feed to us. although I look to genetic research to enlongate life (although not in my lifetime), it would be nice if they could find a stem cell that could reprogram the gene itself. Until then, it is our responsibility to eat properly and do whatever we can (however we can do it) to keep fit and trim. And I am looking into anything that can help me.
Exercise regularly??? Who has time for that??? As for that “FTO” gene, I think i must have three or four of them - if that’s possible! I just can’t get myself motivated some days. Like, this morning. I called in to work, and now am sitting here, before the computer, READING about exercise! Can you dig it? Now would be the perfect time to be exercising, but then I’d have to move all the clothes draped over the exercise machine! I need something. I need motivation. I’m hoping, once I receive these tapes, that they will do something!
Very interesting about 3 hours of moderate activity. I believe it completely!
Due to injuries that cause extreme pain when I exercise (I’ve tried treadmills, ellipticals, etc.,…still with unbearable pain), I decided to “live like the French.” The French don’t “work out,” but they do incorporate exercise into their daily lives.
I simply started parking the car as far away from the entryway to stores that I could, started getting up from my desk every 30 minutes and taking a 2-3 minute mini-walk break, and doing more physical activity around the house at night (cleaning closets, vacuuming more, etc.) All this time, I STOPPED formal workouts, and did not change my eating habits one iota.
I’ve always been thin, but I lost 4 pounds the first two weeks without even trying. I found that when I worked out (by biking 15 miles or doing a 30-min. treadmill routine at 4.5 mph and a 6% incline), I would actually GAIN weight. (Yes, some of it was probably muscle weight gain, but my belly was still not flat. When I stopped “formal” workouts, my stomach flattened within 3 weeks.)
So, this aticle makes total sense to me: a daily “workout” isn’t a natural thing for the body. But ONGOING moderate physical activity throughout the day is what the body was build for. That’s probably whey the “walking” desks work so well to curb weight gain.
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