Your Success in Exercise May Rest In Our Genes

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

01 Jan 2007 07:44 PM

Feel free to breathe a sigh of relief, your success or failure in exercise and how your body responds to it may rest squarely on the shoulders of your parents. According to recent research by the American College of Sports Medicine, researchers have discovered certain genes that reflect on our fitness and physical performance.

Naturally Gifted

There are people who seem like they are just naturally gifted. They workout and their bodies show tremendous results. They have strength, body composition, flexibility and endurance. They workout and their results are just phenomenal. You may have always thought that these people were just lucky or gifted - turns out, you were right. These individuals do have the advantage of genetics and a predisposition towards success.

The research took place through December of 2005 and reviewed all the previous research on the subject. The studies indicated that there are significant genetic differences in people's inclination to be physically active. These different people often get different results from the same activity.

What's the Use of Studying the Genetic Differences?

By studying the genetic differences and the inclination of others to exercise and how they reap the benefits, exercise specialists can help you find the exercise that will best suit your body and your genetic makeup. This research may also indicate who is more inclined to a sedentary lifestyle.

You may also be able to tell if there are physical activities that are worth pursuing. You may have always dreamed of being a marathon runner, but maybe you are far more suited to biking. Would you want to know this? Do you think it would alter your perception of your success and failure rates?

This line of research is important because it will help us identify problems from a public health perspective - especially considering the concerns with obesity and more. Would you want to know if you were genetically predisposed towards a sedentary lifestyle?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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