Genes and Environment Are Co-Conspirators.

• Position: WEIGHT GAIN

Physical activity and sedentary behavior are key contributors in weight control, both for prevention of weight gain and weight loss/maintenance, according to a study in Obesity, a publication of The Obesity Society, Silver Spring, Md., which outlines evidence and gaps in understanding behavioral and psychological phenotypes that may contribute to differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior. A phenotype refers to a set of observable characteristics that differentiate one person from another and generally results from an interaction between genes and the environment.

The report suggests that identifying such phenotypes could improve treatment matching and inform new targets for tailored innovative and effective weight-management interventions.

Even with the very best exercise, diet, and weight-loss programs, there are remarkable differences in the responses across individuals. These differences are, in part, due to individual-level phenotypic differences. "Having a...