A team from the University of Birmingham’s School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science explored how genetics shape weight loss when exercise is part of the routine. The work centers on 14 slim genes, with the PPARGC1A gene identified as the most influential among them. The findings appeared in the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, tying the results to the broader field of sport science and metabolism, according to researchers at the university.
In England, 38 adults aged 20 to 40 participated in the project. Before any testing began, participants provided samples for genetic analysis. The scientists assessed whether each person carried the 14 slim genes and noted how many of these markers were present across the group, a profile once described in the study as a tendency toward a leaner body type for some individuals.
Following a preparatory phase, volunteers entered a two-month training program that required jogging for 30 minutes, three times a week. They were asked to maintain their usual diet and lifestyle, avoiding specific dietary plans or additional workouts outside the prescribed schedule, so the study could isolate the interaction between genetics and a consistent exercise routine.
Eight weeks into the program, weights were measured again. The data showed a notable pattern: participants carrying most of the slim-gene markers shed up to five kilograms, while those lacking these markers averaged about two kilograms of weight loss, a difference that underscored the potential role of genetics in response to exercise and routine activity, as reported by the Birmingham team.
Central to the results is the PPARGC1A gene, which encodes the PGC-1α protein. This protein helps regulate metabolism and energy use during physical activity, and researchers say this gene accounted for nearly two-thirds of the total weight lost during the study, highlighting its significance in metabolic regulation during exercise, according to the investigators.
However, the scientists stressed that a favorable genetic profile does not automatically speed weight loss. Diet quality and steady, regular exercise remain essential components of any effective weight management plan, even for individuals carrying the slimming gene markers, as explained by the study authors.
In closing, a former nutritionist raised a question about what kind of diet should be followed until age 30, illustrating how diet discussions intersect with genetics and exercise in the ongoing conversation about weight management.