In February of 2017 Bob Harper, celebrity fitness professional and host of “The Biggest Loser” had a heart attack. In April of 2017 the FDA approved 23andMe’s personal genetic test, but stressed that results are not a diagnosis. The two stories intersect at a critical point: health and fitness is an exercise in risk reduction, not in black and white outcomes.
The Heart Attack
Bob Harper is a fitness celebrity who has made a career out of being in shape. After his heart attack many people asked the natural question: if he can do all that and still have a heart attack, then what’s the point? What Harper subsequently explained in interviews was that he had heart disease in his family history—his mother died early from a heart attack. This family history raises the risk of heart attack for Harper from the get-go. Since the incident, he has therefore been on a missions to stress the importance of knowing your personal health history.
Genetic Testing Made Easy
Indeed, genetics play a role in health because genes are involved in your chances for developing some diseases.1 As scientists learn more, companies are springing up offering kits to test for such genetic clues. The idea is simple: if you can map your genetics you can understand your potential for developing diseases or health conditions. These tests are controversial though. The Federal Trade Commission notes that “the results of genetic tests are not always ‘yes or no’ for the presence or the risk of developing disease, which make interpretations and explanations difficult,” which is why they are tools for assessing and not for diagnosing. Risk, as we all know, is not about guarantees, it’s about chances.
It’s About Risk Management, Not Guarantees
The lesson we can take from both stories is that health and fitness is not about gurantees or predictable results. In Bob Harper’s case, no amount of exercise could completely protect him from heart disease, even though it is so firmly linked to lifestyle.2 But, as the FDA and Federal Trade Commission point out, genetics are not the sole determiner of outcomes either. Lifestyle, they say, amongst other environmental factors, really does matter. So what’s a person to do? Should they exercise, knowing theymight have a heart attack anyway? Of course you should.
In the end, the point is that health and fitness is about risk management. The reason you should work out, eat healthy, and be mindful of your lifestyle is not to achieve a promised result as soon as possible. Instead, you do it to decrease your risk of having a problem and increase your chances of good outcomes. You are stacking the deck in your favor, investing in your personal future. That is worth it, with or without guarantees.