How Genetics Play a Vital Role in Health and Wellness
How Genetics Play a Vital Role in Health and Wellness
Have you ever wished you could just know what to do for your health? Most people understand that they should exercise more, eat more veggies, sleep more and reduce stress but there are actually some ways that folks can be more targeted with health as they age…and its hidden in the genes.
At times, aging feels like an uphill battle. Every year older a person gets, it becomes easier to lose muscle mass and gain fat mass. Currently about 23% of people age 60 – 69 and 16% of those over age 70 are obese and struggling to maintain a healthy weight. There are many steps you can take to start to slow or reverse this process and there is help out there for you.
Did you know that when it comes to weight loss programs, slow and steady wins the race? There is evidence that losing about 5-10% of your body weight in a 6-month period is the best rate for your body and keeping it off for the long term. Research shows that in the long term, weight loss positively impacts markers like cholesterol and triglycerides so it is an important, if challenging, thing to focus on.
The more weight you lose, the more your metabolism will drop to adjust to that new body weight making it more challenging to hold your new weight steady. As a result, the amount you need to cut calories and increase exercise necessary to maintain the weight loss become more than most people can sustain long-term. Instead of a crash diet, look long to make permanent changes to your lifestyle that will add up to big results ultimately.
Research shows again and again that successful, sustained weight loss involves a slow, steady loss over time. Crash diets (such as the HCG diet with 500 k/cal per day or other very low-calorie diets) may allow people to lose a lot of weight quickly, though research has shown this does not equate to long term success. In recent years, high-fat diets like ketogenic and Paleo diets have gained popularity as people seek them for weigh tloss. While these diets have some interesting pros and cons, it cannot be ignored that, genetically, many people are predisposed to increased weight gain from high amounts of fat in the diet. Yes, even healthy fats like your beloved avocados and nut butters.
No diet is one size fits all. Knowing how your body responds to certain types of foods could be key to finding a weight loss that works for you. Interestingly, genetics can also impact how you well you taste sweet and bitter flavors (which can impact how much you like or dislike those weight-loss friendly vegetables), how important exercise is for maintaining weight, and even your predisposition for a high or low Body Mass Index (BMI).
There’s a reason genetic reporting is taking off; it finally helps people know exactly what is right for them. While knowing the genetic hand you’ve been dealt is interesting, the big question is how can you use this knowledge to take action and make lasting changes. Lifestyle has a much larger impact on overall health and wellness than genetic makeup. This is why Arivale emphasizes pairing data with one-on-one lifestyle coaching with their Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, Certified Nutritionists with advances degrees and Registered Nurses, empowering people to translate genetic knowledge into actions that help improve your wellness….and your life.
If you’re curious about learning your genetic predisposition for the wellness-related factors and working with a personal coach to help you apply that knowledge to your lifestyle, learn more about our programs.
– Ginger Hultin, MS, RDN, CSO, Seattle-based Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist and Arivale Coach
Category: Articles, Blog, Good Life, Senior Health
