Being overweight can increase your risk of many chronic health issues like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lower back pain, hypertension, and some cancers. Obesity in itself is a medical problem that happens because of the accumulation of too much body fat. A body mass index of 25 or more is considered obesity. The good news is you can still live a healthy life by making lifestyle changes.
What causes obesity?
Obesity is due to weight gain because of the consumption of excess energy that you can burn, through the food you eat. Eating too much food, and low physical activity levels become a risk factors for obesity. However, you must have noticed - not everyone becomes obese even if they eat too much and don’t exercise; and some gain weight even after a moderate diet. The answer for this is hidden in the genes.
Obesity and genetics
Some people have an increased likelihood to become obese in their lifetime - this is because of their unique genes. The combination of your genetic information and your lifestyle influences your body’s weight and health. These complex interactions affect the way your body responds to the food you consume. For example:
- You might continue feeling hungry after eating a certain food item
- You might overeat when you are in stress
- You might be inclined to binge eat
Such influences are controlled by your genetic makeup.
Know your risk for obesity with a genetic test
Your genetic test reports your predisposition for obesity in a genetic risk score based on the genetic variants that are linked to obesity in your DNA structure. It also identifies and reports the genetic variations associated with your physical traits and health conditions. Your risk score helps you in understanding the cause of obesity and the risk factors that might trigger it.
Make lifestyle modifications to prevent or manage obesity
Once you understand the information coded in your genetics, you can make simple modifications to your lifestyle to manage a healthy weight. Your genetic test not only gives you a report along with recommendations for ideal food and exercise plans, it also gives you a chance to talk to a genetic counselor to deeply understand the changes you should be making. As genetics cannot be changed, your report serves as a lifetime guide for good health.
Know your body’s ideal nutrition and lifestyle needs to prevent obesity and other health conditions.
