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6 Exercises That Prevent Weight Gain Even If You Have the ‘Obesity Gene’

If you are looking to drop some pounds or just stay in shape, you know that being active plays an important role. Many doctors suggest exercise to curb weight gain, but it’s been unclear which specific workouts are best — until now. New research show that six types of exercise prevent weight gain better than others, especially for folks predisposed to obesity.

The August 2019 study published in PLOS Genetics found that regular jogging was the absolute best type of exercise for managing obesity. However, results also showed that mountain climbing, walking, power walking, certain types of dance, and long yoga practices could also be enormously beneficial for folks with “obesity genes.” In contrast, popular workouts like cycling, stretching exercises, swimming, and Dance Dance Revolution did not counteract genetic effects of obesity. (Of course, these workouts are still beneficial for other health reasons and improving your overall fitness, especially if you enjoy them.)

To find these answers, researchers looked at 18,424 Han Chinese adults aged 30 to 70 years and analyzed the participants’ genetics as well as their self-reported exercise regimens. Researchers paid close attention to measures of obesity, such as body mass index (BMI), body-fat percentage, and waist-to-hip ratio. 

“Our findings show that the genetic effects on obesity measures can be decreased to various extents by performing different kinds of exercise,” the study authors summarized. “The benefits of regular physical exercise are more impactful in subjects who are more predisposed to obesity.”

Furthermore, the results suggest that a person’s genetics don’t necessarily have to be their destinies when it comes to obesity. Considering previous research has shown exercise is helpful for people at genetic risk of obesity, it’s good news that there are specific workouts that offer such impressive benefits.

Who knew that making a simple change to your lifestyle could make such a huge difference?

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