Fundamental questions about genes, inactivity, and chronic diseases

Abstract

Booth FW, Lees SJ. Fundamental questions about genes, inactivity, and chronic diseases.

Effect of aerobic exercise on tumor physiology in an animal model of human breast cancer

“…Of relevance to this experiment, exercise also improves the negative consequences associated with a high-fat diet (i.e., insulin resistance, weight gain, etc.). Together, these adaptations, in turn, induce favorable systemic (whole body) changes in the host (2). Given that the organ location of most malignancies, other than lung cancer and possibly sarcomas, are not directly involved in the exercise response, it appears reasonable to suggest that these systemic (secondary) effects are primarily responsible for our observed effects of exercise-induced increases in intratumoral vascularization.…”

Novel pharmacological approaches to combat obesity and insulin resistance: targeting skeletal muscle with ‘exercise mimetics’

“…First, many cardiovascular adaptations including blood pressure reduction and enhanced lipid profile are at least in part unrelated to muscle-specific adaptation [20,97]. Additionally, other health benefits attributed to regular exercise include amelioration of: dementia and other neurological disorders, osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, fall-related injuries, depression, certain cancers and forms of cardiovascular disease [2,98]. Obviously, no single pharmaceutical agent could mimic this response.…”

“…Ancient Greek physicians, most notably through the teachings of Hippocrates, proposed that a lack of physical exertion was one of the primary causes of obesity [2]. More recently, in the early 20th Century, one of the forefathers of diabetes research, Elliot P. Joslin, similarly proposed that along with controlled diet and insulin therapy, regular exercise was a cornerstone of diabetes management [3].…”

Driven to Be Inactive?—The Genetics of Physical Activity

“…4 Consequently, physical inactivity has been held responsible for approximately two million deaths per year worldwide 5 and is defined as an actual cause of chronic diseases by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 6 The percentage of the total population of the United States that is physically inactive 2 far exceeds the percentage of those who smoke (19.7%), are hypertensive (27.5%), or have elevated total cholesterol (37.5%). 7 Therefore, the investigation of the causes and mechanisms of physical inactivity should be considered an area of critical importance for our national health policy 6 especially in regards to the prevention and treatment of obesity.…”