1. Biological/Genetic Regulation of Physical Activity Level
- Author
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Lightfoot, J Timothy, DE Geus, Eco JC, Booth, Frank W, Bray, Molly S, DEN Hoed, Marcel, Kaprio, Jaakko, Kelly, Scott A, Pomp, Daniel, Saul, Michael C, Thomis, Martine A, Garland, Theodore, and Bouchard, Claude
- Subjects
Public Health ,Health Sciences ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Genetics ,Basic Behavioral and Social Science ,Cancer ,Good Health and Well Being ,Biology ,Consensus ,Environment ,Exercise ,Health Behavior ,Humans ,Societies ,Medical ,Sports Medicine ,ANIMAL ,BIOLOGY ,GENETICS ,GENOMICS ,HUMAN ,PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ,SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITY ,VOLUNTARY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ,Human Movement and Sports Sciences ,Medical Physiology ,Public Health and Health Services ,Sport Sciences ,Clinical sciences ,Medical physiology ,Sports science and exercise - Abstract
PurposePhysical activity unquestionably maintains and improves health; however, physical activity levels globally are low and not rising despite all the resources devoted to this goal. Attention in both the research literature and the public policy domain has focused on social-behavioral factors; however, a growing body of literature suggests that biological determinants play a significant role in regulating physical activity levels. For instance, physical activity level, measured in various manners, has a genetic component in both humans and nonhuman animal models. This consensus article, developed as a result of an American College of Sports Medicine-sponsored round table, provides a brief review of the theoretical concepts and existing literature that supports a significant role of genetic and other biological factors in the regulation of physical activity.ConclusionsFuture research on physical activity regulation should incorporate genetics and other biological determinants of physical activity instead of a sole reliance on social and other environmental determinants.
- Published
- 2018