Gaby
Why do some people shed pounds effortlessly while others struggle with every extra kilogram?
According to new research, the answer lies in our genes. A team of scientists from the University of Essex in the UK discovered that the secret to weight loss is a combination of 14 so-called “slimness genes.” Thanks to these genes, some participants in the study lost twice as much weight during their workouts.
What Did the Scientists Discover?
The researchers involved 38 British participants aged 20 to 40 in an eight-week study. After undergoing a DNA test, they were instructed to run for half an hour three times a week, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The researchers asked participants to maintain their usual diet and lifestyle, as well as to refrain from any other physical exercises. Throughout the experiment, the scientists regularly weighed the participants. They found that by the end of the study, those with a higher number of slimness genes had lost the most weight. These participants shed about 5 kilograms, while runners without such genes lost an average of 2 kilograms.
The most significant gene identified was PPARGC1A, which encodes the protein PGC-1-alpha, helping to regulate metabolism. According to the researchers, this gene accounted for about two-thirds of the weight loss and was present in participants who lost the most kilograms.
As noted by Dr. Henry Chang from the School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise (the study’s lead), despite the findings, lifestyle and diet play a crucial role in weight loss.
“This research has revealed some important genes associated with reducing jeans size, but it’s essential to remember that these genes won’t have any effect without exercise and lifestyle changes,” he emphasized. In Dr. Chang’s view, without these factors, the genes “won’t unlock their true potential.”
The scientist stressed that, in addition to weight loss, physical exercise offers numerous benefits—from improving mental health to strengthening the cardiovascular system. Therefore, he recommends continuing workouts even if weight doesn’t change significantly.
The study’s results were published in the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. This work is closely related to Dr. Chang’s previous research, which showed that running effectiveness also correlates with genetics.
“Given that obesity is becoming an increasingly serious societal issue, a comprehensive understanding of how genes and their alleles relate to the body’s response to exercise will revolutionize the personalization and effectiveness of exercise programs,” believes Henry Chang.
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About two decades ago, scientists from the University of Bristol identified a specific gene—the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R). This gene produces a protein that sends signals to appetite sensors in the brain, indicating the amount of fat we have stored.
When this gene malfunctions, our brain mistakenly thinks we have less fat reserves than we actually do, signaling that we are hungry and need to eat.
Researchers found that approximately one in 340 people may carry a mutation of the MC4R gene. This means they are likely to weigh more from a young age.
The scientists obtained these results while studying the MC4R gene in a random sample of 6,000 participants born in Bristol in 1990-1991.
