A study featured in Medical News Today reports about the effects of walking for an hour per day on genes that affect BMI, or body mass index. Body mass index is the ratio of a person's weight in kilograms per the square of their height in meters. A BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more is considered to be obese.The study was done by examining 32 genes known to effect BMI and cause obesity. It was designed to test the effects of a leisurely lifestyle of multiple hours of TV watching daily versus an active lifestyle that consists of walking at least an hour a day. The data that the researchers collected supported the idea that physical activity reduces the effect of BMI increasing genes. Likewise, a sedentary lifestyle of watching TV multiple hours a day caused an increase in the effect of the obesity causing genes.
Researchers are not exactly sure how the genes affect body mass index from a biochemical point of view, but they plan to do more research to find the answer. From this experiment, we can infer that physical activity reduces the effect of the obesity causing genes, while living a sedentary lifestyle increases the effect of these genes. Researchers conclude that a combination of the two, increasing exercise and decreasing TV watching, will help reduce the effect of the BMI increasing genes even more. Just a brisk walk an hour a day, that's all it takes.
I recently read an article regarding BMI. It is amazing how simple exercises like walking can really enhance one's life and increase the number of years.
ReplyDeleteThis is fascinating! Thanks to your post, I will make sure that I walk amd exercise more every day to try to make sure I don't become obese. Some people do not realize the serious health conditions that obesity may lead to. If you avoid obesity, you will live a healthier life.
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting. I look forward to reading further research on how the genes that affect body mass index work from a biochemical point of view.
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