Genetic influences of sports participation in Portuguese families

An Extended Twin-Pedigree Study of Different Classes of Voluntary Exercise Behavior

We investigated the familial clustering of different classes of voluntary regular exercise behavior in extended twin-family pedigrees. In contrast to the earlier work based on twin data only, this allowed us to estimate the contributions of shared household effects (C), additive (A), and non-additive (D) genetic effects on voluntary exercise behavior. To test whether shared household effects were inflated by assortative mating we examined the causes of spousal resemblance. For adolescent and adult participants (aged 16 to 65) in the Netherlands Twin Register we constructed 19,543 pedigrees which specified all relations among nuclear family members and larger families in the register (N = 50,690 individuals). Data were available on total weekly MET minutes spent on leisure time exercise, and on total weekly MET minutes spent on exercise activities in team-based, solitary, competitive, non-competitive, externally paced and internally paced exercise. We analyzed the data in the Mendel software package (Lange et al. in Bioinformatics 29(12):1568–1570, 2013) under multiple definitions of household sharing and used data from spouses of twins to test phenotypic assortment, social homogamy, and marital interaction as potential sources of spousal resemblance. Results confirmed the influence of genetic factors on the total volume of weekly exercise behavior throughout the life span. Broad sense heritability ranged from 34 to 41% (19–26% A, 12–21% D), and did not depend on the definition for household sharing. Engaging in team-based, competitive, externally paced activities (e.g., soccer) was ~ 13% more heritable than engaging in non-competitive, solitary activities (e.g., jogging). Having shared a household as siblings explained 4–8% of the variance in adult exercise behavior, whereas sharing a household by spouses yielded higher C estimates (20–24%), as it incorporates spousal resemblance. Spousal resemblance was explained by both social homogamy and marital interaction, with little evidence for phenotypic assortment. We conclude that both the amount of voluntary exercise behavior and the preference for specific classes of exercise activities in adults is explained by additive and non-additive genetic factors and unique environmental influences that include correlated exercise behavior of spouses.

Familial Resemblance in Body Shape and Composition, Metabolic Syndrome, Physical Activity and Physical Fitness: A Summary of Research in Portuguese Families and Siblings

We report a summary of Portuguese families and siblings research under the umbrella of the Portuguese Healthy Family Project. Families lived in mainland Portugal, as well as in the Azores and Madeira islands. All samples comprise children and adolescents (9-20 years) and their parents (27-57 years). Recruitment procedures and phenotypes were detailed. Familial resemblance in body shape and composition, metabolic syndrome, physical fitness, physical activity and sedentary behaviors are presented, as well as future research avenues.

Biological/Genetic Regulation of Physical Activity Level: Consensus from GenBioPAC

PURPOSE

Physical 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.

CONCLUSIONS

Future 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.