Emily Marrison, Columnist Published 11:00 a.m. ET Jan. 25, 2020

For better and for worse, we all inherit particular characteristics from our parents.

Maybe its our mothers eyesor maybe our fathers temper. Some of that is directly the result of the DNA weve receivedand some of it comes from the influence they exerted in our environment.

Emily Marrison(Photo: Submitted)

When it comes to our health and wellness, it can be challenging to determine whether nature or nurture has more of an impact. In some cases, it may not really matter. But when it causes you to feel powerless or apathetic about how much you can change your condition, it definitely matters.

Results of a long-term study were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Cardiology. The study tracked data on more than 2,500 Americans who were followed for decades from young adulthood in 1985 to 2010. One of their findings is that body mass index (BMI) in youth appears to be the best predictor of long-term obesity risk.

There have been other studies in recent years that have identified certain genes that are believed to be responsible for a person becoming overweight and obese. There are rare inherited causes of obesity, but this is not the case for the majority of the population. This study suggests that daily lifestyle is the more important factor for determining our weight.

When we look at the BMI of children, this is showing the result of genetics as well as environment. The genes we inherit can certainly make us more susceptible to weight gain, but that doesnt mean it is inevitable. Hopefully, this research can empower people to know that being obese doesnt have to be someones destiny. Their healthy lifestyle choices the foods they eat, their portion sizesand physical activity can result in a better quality of life.

According to the National Heart, Lungand Blood Institute, being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems and certain cancers. A European study linked obesity to a nearly six-fold increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

If you are looking for ways to learn more about healthy lifestyle choices while managing diabetes, theOSU Extension has some great resources available. I am pleased that we will be partnering with the Coshocton Regional Medical Center this April to offer Dining with Diabetes. This is a cooking school and nutrition education program designed for people with diabetes and their family members or caregivers.

Dining with Diabetes will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays April 6 to 27 at Coshocton Regional Medical Center, 1460 Orange Street, Coshocton. The cost of the program is $20 per person and includes all four classes, educational handoutsand small-sized meals that feature a variety of recipes. You are encouraged to also register a support person to attend with you for an additional $5. You can find more details and registration information at coshocton.osu.edu.

Today, Ill leave you with this quote from Billy Graham, When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.

Emily Marrison is an OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator and may be reached at 740-622-2265.

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