Even Lousy Genetics Can't Beat A Healthy Lifestyle

Filed in archive Research on July 25, 2006

In one of the largest diabetes-related studies conducted, researchers in the Diabetes Prevention Project found that a gene variation on chromosome 10q25.3 (how's that for specific?) seems to lead to a greater chance of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Although this could seem like bad news, the study also uncovered something fantastic:

The researchers were delighted to observe that even the participants at highest genetic risk benefited from healthy lifestyle changes as much or perhaps more than those who did not inherit the variant. "The lifestyle intervention reduced risk even in those who carried both copies of the risk variant," said lead author Jose Florez, M.D., Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston. "This finding emphasizes that people at risk of diabetes, whether they're overweight, have elevated blood glucose levels, or have this particular genetic variant, can benefit greatly by implementing a healthy lifestyle."

It's a case of nurture triumphing over nature. It's nice to know that we're in control.

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