Good News! Health is Contagious 

You may know someone who can eat as much as he wants of anything he wants and never gain weight.   However, to stay at a healthy weight most people past their teen years must constantly guard against such calorie packed temptations as prime rib, French fries, and pecan pie.   

The Max-Planck Inst. reports grim results: Our world has a weighty problem. About half a billion people are obese. Obesity is a risk factor for many secondary diseases such as cardiovascular problems, cancer and diabetes. Adiposity (being fat) is largely controlled by our DNA, and, more recently appreciated, by our environment. *  Nearly all well-educated and materially comfortable Americans understand the problems of obesity. 

That’s why the most common New Year’s resolution is to maintain a healthy diet, exercise more, and hence lose weight.  Alas, the majority of Americans begin falling off the resolutions wagon by January 17.  And it’s harder for some to be resolute than for others.  Genetics matter.

Last week, on January 25, Science Alert.com, reported: “It's not just how active they are or their gut bacteria – some people actually have different genetic coding that helps them stay the same weight….”  I’ve seen the same principle operating among livestock.  We call such animals “easy keepers”.   Staying fit is rarely a big problem with livestock.  Cows and sheep normally and naturally eat about two to three percent of their body weight day. **  

If one regularly observes 100 cows or sheep, he will recognize (or know by their ear tag numbers) a few who seem to always be grazing or eating hay.  Others are contently lying down apparently enjoying Big Sky country.  This is because some are genetically programed to eat and convert more efficiently than others.  These are the “easy keepers”. 

People are similar on this dimension.  Hold, gaining or losing weight is not just a matter of self-discipline and dedication. It’s also a matter of genetics.  Hence, I should be careful and kind rather than make quick and harsh judgments about overweight people.  Good New Year’s resolution. 

A person’s genetic makeup is determined at conception. However, our environment and lifestyle choices can alter the epigenetic sequence over time, dynamically changing the way in which our genes are expressed***. 

What does this imply for a wholesome life?  It indicates the importance of being with and emulating the behavior of people with a fit lifestyle.  On this Boulder ranks the highest in our nation.****

Bozeman has these community features as well.  However, given our harsher climate, many people join and are active in one Bozeman's twenty plus health clubs.  They join the club to stay in shape, meet friends, and enjoy the contagion of health, also the great majority of health club members are also active outside

*fn Max-Planck-Gesellschaft,Research Notes 1-28-2016, Imminobiology

**fn  Untitled - Animal and Range Sciences Extension - Montana State animalrangeextension.montana.edu/.../forage%20consumpiton%20estimated%20AU.   A cow or sheep will average about two percent of their weight, a 1000- pound lactating cow will consume 22 pounds of forage. (dry weight) per day.  A cow or sheep will average about two percent of their weight, a 1000- pound lactating cow will consume 22 pounds of forage. (dry weight) per day. 

*** fn August 14, 2018 Research published in Nature Communications offers more evidence on how lifestyle choices and exposure to our environment can influence the way our genes express themselves.  This is an overarching theme of epigenetics.  https://www.whatisepigenetics.com/fundamentals/

****fn http://time.com/4944076/americans-exercise-map/ Boulder has "a very tangible culture of wellbeing, lots of bike paths, lots of built structure that makes the healthy choices the easy choice."

***** fn  Sperling's Comfort Index for Boulder is a 73 out of 100.  Sperling's Comfort Index for Bozeman is a 61 out of 100