Motivation to exercise? It’s genetic.

Exercise is essential for maintaining physical and mental health, but it can be difficult to find the motivation to get up and get moving. However, recent research suggests that our genetics may influence our ability to find motivation for exercise. This article will explore the latest findings on the genetic factors that may play a role in our motivation to exercise and how we can use this knowledge to improve our own fitness habits.
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Why doesn’t everyone like to exercise?

Let’s face it. Some people don’t like to exercise, and no matter how many Instagram inspiration posts they see, they aren’t going to head to the gym.

A study in the journal Behavioral Brain Research paints a fascinating picture of why some people are more motivated to exercise. The study looked at the dopaminergic system to see how people’s genetic variants could alter the ‘reinforcing value’ of exercise.

Most people in the US are too sedentary, and 90% of Americans don’t meet the recommendations for physical activity. The US Department of Health and Human Services claims that adults need 2 1/2 hours/week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and two days/week of strength training.[ref]

According to the researchers, one factor in adhering to the guidelines is “the reinforcing value of exercise relative to a competing alternative behavior”. In other words, would you rather exercise or do something else…

The study examined 178 adults (average age 27) who wore activity trackers. The participants also rated how much they liked different exercises and sedentary activities.

The researchers investigated 23 different genetic variants – ranging from FTO (obesity-related variants) to ACE (muscle/heart disease) to dopamine variants.

Lifehacks:

Perhaps understanding the reason why you don’t want to exercise will motivate you to get beyond that and start working out more :-)

It is always interesting to see the genetic pathways involved in a topic and then trying to manipulate that pathway for a benefit. Here are some suggestions on exercise motivation, but I encourage you to think outside the box and come up with what will work for you.

There are a lot of good reasons to include exercise in your routine. From heart health to longevity, moderate exercise is vital.

Dopamine rewards:

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