Linda S. Pescatello recently published Exercise Genomics, the first book of its kind to provide an extensive look into the research development and expert opinion on genetics and genomics across a range of exercise-related traits, including exercise performance, health-related fitness and physical activity.

The book emphasizes the analyses and comprehension of researchers from around the world on the past, present and future of exercise genomics. Dr. Pescatello is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Human Performance Laboratory at UConn’s Neag School of Education.

“This book is important because how a person responds to an exercise intervention is determined to a considerable extent by their genes,” said Dr. Pescatello. “Understanding how genes influence our weight, muscles, risk for certain diseases and exercise performance is critical to how best to prescribe exercise to maximize the health and fitness-related benefits of participation in physical activity and exercise programs.”

Dr. Pescatello’s text is tailored toward clinicians, health/fitness professionals and researchers looking to gain knowledge from new findings in the field, as well as evaluate unanswered questions regarding genomics effects on performance, metabolism, cardiovascular disease risk factors and more. Students and professionals will acquire a broad foundation on the subject, research methods and data.

“The ultimate goal of work in this area is ‘personalized medicine,’ which uses genetic information to tailor exercise interventions to maximize health outcomes. However, it is a general consensus of the expert contributors to this book that due to the significant challenges of research in this area that a personalized approach to exercise prescription is still a promise of the future rather than a reality of the present,” said Dr. Pescatello.

For more information, contact Dr. Pescatello at linda.pescatello@uconn.edu.