It's true. There really is such a thing as a "fat gene," and it really does predispose millions of people to obesity. While we can't pick our genes, new research analyzing 45 studies on the topic provides some good news: Regular exercise can help cancel out the negative effects of the gene that increases obesity risk.

To figure out whether exercise really is powerful enough to combat the pound-packing programming carried in the fat gene, scientists looked at data from more about 220,000 people of different backgrounds. Turns out, we can blame our ancestors for passing along the gene. Researchers found that 74 percent of people of European descent had variants of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene, leading to an increased risk of obesity. In people of African descent, 76 percent saw an increased risk, while just 20 to 30 percent of Asians harbored the risky gene variant. (The fat gene leads to a 20 to 30 percent increased risk of obesity.)

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The good news is more active people who exercise enjoyed a nearly 30 percent risk reduction for the fat gene's unwanted effects. (The fat-gene-blunting benefits of exercise were seen in adults, not children. About an hour of exercise five times a week is enough to help cancel out the risk associated with the fat gene, the study authors conclude.