Physical activity and gene association with human obesity

Abstract

The obesity is a leading cause of health problems all over the world. It is a comlex health abnormality that is influenced by developmental, behavioural, environmental, and genetic factors. Although the role of physical activity and diet in regulation of body weight is well described, the genetic variants potentially influencing the characteristics and range of the body’s adaptive response to physical activity in healthy individuals still remains mostly unknown. The main aim of this study is to review current evidence, through a literature review and the results of our studies, on the influence of selected molecular markers on the development of obesity, as well as the body composition changes in response to regular physical activity. We studied the most reliable candidate genes with a focus on catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT), dopamine deceptor D2 gene (DRD2), fatty acid binding protein 2 gene (FABP2), fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO), and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1). This review provides information about recent genetic research progressions in adiposity, as well as molecular mechanisms, associated phenotypes, as well as their implications for human health, physical performance, and adaptive changes in response to physical activity.