The secret to lasting longer in an exercise program may be right inside your DNA and genes, suggests a new fitness and nutrition study.
Over the last few years, more people are trading their couches for at least an hour's run in the treadmill and their Friday nights with Zumba or Pilates classes. Some have also invested on fitness DVDs or opted for short-interval trainings while the well-off hire a personal trainer.
All these are well and good, but many are more likely to fall off the gym wagon very soon. While we can blame it on plenty of excuses like lack of time or interest, it may also be because the program and us just don't mix.
A new UK study, however, provides us with a new perspective when it comes to fitness - that is, the mismatch may have something do with our DNA. Further, it suggests that if we can break down our DNA down to the genetic level, we might actually figure out the fitness routine that suits us.
For the study published in Biology of Sport, Central Lancashire researchers worked for eight weeks with 67 young athletes, including 39 male soccer players and 28 young athletes, who were then divided into two groups.
The participants were swabbed for genetic analysis using a technology called DNAFit, which can scan up to 45 gene variants that influence a person's response to fitness and nutrition, although none of the participants knew which type of program they were undertaking.
All athletes then performed counter-movement jump and aerobic cycling tests, which reveal that those who underwent a DNA analysis performed way better than their counterpart. To be more specific, they improved almost 5 percent higher than the mismatched group in counter-movement jump test and 3.9 percent in aerobic cycling test.
This increased level of effectiveness may be attributed to DNAFit Peak Performance algorithm "to find out the best training for the body according to the person's genetics," DNAFit said.
The gene variants and the subsequent results of the algorithm can then help determine whether the person will respond better with low- or high-intensity workouts or whether he may be less tolerant to certain types of nutrients. The technology can also illustrate how to maximize a person's fitness qualities such as endurance and power.
For £99 ($140), the test, which may be released within 10 days after the swab, may be a bit hefty, but know that a membership to Gold's gym may cost you as much as $40 a month.
Also, athletes such as Greg Rutherford who's training in long jump for the upcoming Rio Olympics vouch for it.
"My belief system is that everyone can be great and what you need to do is go in depth to find out how you train best, how you recover best and how you do everything to the best of your ability and DNA testing I think is the future of that," he said.
