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The Genetics of Physical Activity

  • Cardiovascular Genomics (TL Assimes, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Physical activity (PA) is a well-established modifiable lifestyle determinant for multiple cardio-metabolic outcomes. While many psychosocial and environmental correlates of PA have been identified, current understanding of the genetic architecture that contributes to PA is still very limited, especially when compared to other phenotypes such as obesity and diabetes.

Recent Findings

This review systematically and comprehensively assesses available evidence from animal experiments, family studies, population-based candidate gene analyses, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) studying the genetics of physical activity patterns. It discusses the scientific evolution in the field of PA genetics, including the recognition of increased sample sizes, the shift from early family-based approaches to association-based design, and the rapidly advancement of enabling genotyping and sequencing technologies. In addition, this review points to the gaps in the current knowledge base, including the general lack of GWAS and whole-genome sequence analyses particularly understudied populations, and the need for large-scale collaborative effort in both observational and experimental settings. In this review, we also call for research utilizing systems biology strategies for PA genetic research and accounting for complex gene-environment interactions that may vary by race/ethnicity.

Summary

The epidemic of physical inactivity has been a public health nemesis, encompassing a large burden of diseases and high societal costs. A better understanding of the genetic basis of PA can inform public health policies for the prevention, control, and treatment of many chronic diseases related to physical inactivity.

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Funding

SL has received support from the American Heart Association (AHA CVGPS Pathway Grant), the National Institute of Health (NIH; R01 DK103699-01A1), and the US Department of Human Services (HHSN268201100003). JEM has received support from the NIH (R01 HL34594).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Xiaochen Lin, Charles B. Eaton & Simin Liu

  2. Center for Global Cardio-metabolic Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Xiaochen Lin & Simin Liu

  3. Department of Family Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Charles B. Eaton

  4. Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    JoAnn E. Manson

  5. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    JoAnn E. Manson

  6. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Simin Liu

  7. Department of Endocrinology, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou, China

    Simin Liu

  8. Department of Epidemiology and Medicine, Brown University, 121 South Main St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA

    Simin Liu

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  1. Xiaochen Lin
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  2. Charles B. Eaton
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Correspondence to Simin Liu.

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Xiaochen Lin, Charles B. Eaton, JoAnn E. Manson, and Simin Liu declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Lin, X., Eaton, C.B., Manson, J.E. et al. The Genetics of Physical Activity. Curr Cardiol Rep 19, 119 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-017-0938-7

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