Younger Indians can turn off ‘Obesity Genes’ through lifestyle: AIG study

A study by Hyderabad’s Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, published in Scientific Reports, finds Indians under 50 can counter obesity-linked genes through healthy lifestyles, with early dietary changes and exercise significantly reducing long-term metabolic disease risk

Hyderabad: A groundbreaking study by Hyderabad-based Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) has indicated that despite genetic predisposition to obesity, young Indians do have a fighting chance at rewriting their health destiny.

The AIG study, published in Science Reports from Nature journal, has now revealed a critical ‘window of opportunity’ for Indians under the age of 50 years, that they indeed can beat chronic illness.

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While the AIG study makes it clear that in younger Indians (below 30 years), a poor lifestyle combined with obesity genes makes them 16 times more likely to be obese, it also offers a way forward.  Despite the handicap of ‘bad genes’, if young Indians adopt a healthy lifestyle, it is  actually three times more effective at ‘turning off’ the impact of the bad genes, compared to older generations, study said.

For the first time, the study provides supporting patient data indicating that while Indians can’t change their DNA or genetic predisposition,  they can effectively ‘silence’ it through specific dietary and activity choices.  A diet low in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats is critical for Indians, who are mostly predisposed to obesity, to prevent obesity, the study said.

While we often think of genetics as a fixed fate, the AIG data has indicated that body’s metabolic plasticity in younger years allows healthy habits such as a balanced diet and regular physical activity, to essentially silence the effects of obesity-related DNA.

This means that for a person in their 20s or 30s, every healthy choice made today carries triple the weight in preventing future metabolic disease than it would later in life, Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Founder, AIG, said.

The data, drawn from both the UK Biobank and patients from AIG-Hyderabad, shows that we aren’t just dealing with a weight problem, but a growing metabolic challenge.  Since Indians often develop diabetes and heart disease at lower weights than Westerners, the 16-fold risk is particularly significant.

The researchers tracked a ‘Healthy Lifestyle Score’, focusing on simple factors like cutting refined carbs and staying active, and found it could slash a person’s BMI by nearly 5 points, even if their genetics were working against them.

Important points: 

• Genetically predisposed to obesity does not mean Indians can’t life healthy

• Indians can turn-off the impact of bad genes

• If persons below 50 years adopt healthy lifestyle, 3 times more effective in reducing impact of bad genes

• Bad genes and bad lifestyle leads to 16 times more chances of obesity

• Healthy lifestyle means physical activity and dietary changes

• Dietary changes involves low in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats

• Healthy lifestyle can slash BMI by 5 points, neutralising obesity genes

• Indian body is responsive to change and health lifestyle can lead to benefits