Incorporating physical activity into one’s daily routine may prove beneficial to those with a family history of obesity, according to findings published in the journal <i>PLos Medicine.</i>

For this trial, a team of researchers analyzed information collected from a recent study that included more than 20,400 participants. This data included any hereditary illnesses that could lead to an increased likelihood of suffering from obesity. Researchers also surveyed each individual about how often they exercised.

The researchers discovered that regular exercise reduced the risk of obesity by 40 percent among those with the related genetic mechanism. Furthermore, the results of the study showed that hereditary diseases related to the weight illness increased the likelihood of an unhealthy body mass index, a symptom of obesity.

The investigators concluded that family history may contribute to an increased risk among family members of developing obesity.

The authors of the study stated that “our findings further emphasize the importance of physical activity in the prevention of obesity.”

From 2007 to 2008, approximately one-third of Americans were considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.