subject: Can the bad FTO gene be neutralized? [print this page] Can the bad FTO gene be neutralized? Can the bad FTO gene be neutralized?
Food habits are an important issue when it comes to obesity, so if you have a variant of the FTO gene that promotes overeating then you need to watch what you eat. Some researchers say food habits and exercise are just as important, if not more so as genes. People who have bad FTO gene variant carry on average 7 pounds more than those without it. Bigger waist lines, high (Body Mass Index) BMI rates, and extra body fat can be neutralized with moderate exercise and healthier eating.
Studies suggest the bad FTO gene variant is carried mostly by overweight people. During an MRI study at UCLA, people who carried a bad variant of this gene had brain mass decreased up to 12% less that average weighted people. FTO is also closely related to Alzheimer's disease, and resides in approximately half of the US population. Obesity is partly formed by the environment and partly by genes, so you'll have to work off the part you have control over. Overweight teenagers need more activity in their daily lives, which can be through swimming, track and other school activities. On average, adults should get around 2 1/5 hours of exercise a week. This can be achieved little at a time through walking, taking stairs, riding a bike or getting a workout.
Neutralizing the negative effects of a bad FTO gene can be done with a healthy life style backed with positive reinforcement. If you are obese, you have a greater chance of carrying the FTO variant that can increase up to 12% of brain tissue loss. Research shows that obesity is related to Alzheimer's. Watching what you eat and getting healthier habits can increase your chances of decreasing the effects of the FTO gene.
