Does your DNA hold the key to a fitter, slimmer you? Ex-rugby pro Alex Poole explains

Whether your goal is to run a marathon, get more muscular or simply to lose your love handles, Poole says that a DNA test can help you get the best results for the time and effort you put in

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Personal coach Alex Poole, pictured working out in Hong Kong Park, says DNA testing is not a talent identification tool, but can help change the methods someone uses to get results faster. Photo: James Wendlinger

Published: 5:35pm, 3 Jul 2017Updated: 5:51pm, 3 Jul 2017

Staying fit can be a challenge and taking short cuts can frequently end in injury. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look for ways to make training more efficient. One person who might be able to help is former pro rugby player Alex Poole, 43, who is helping people streamline the road to that ideal body with the help of science – specifically DNA.

Poole’s love of science and fitness started when he was a student studying homeostasis – the self-regulating processes by which biological systems maintain stability.

“It suddenly dawned on me how amazing the body was at doing so many things at once, some voluntary and some not.” he says. “As a keen sportsman, it was then that I decided I wanted to learn more about how to optimise the body for peak performance and health.”

Poole helps athletes in a number of ways, from injury rehabilitation to career longevity to attaining peak performance. Photo: James Wendlinger

Poole pursued a dream career in professional sport, joining the ranks of Bristol Rugby in the UK. After a couple of seasons he realised it was physically too punishing. “Rugby had just turned professional and the sport had become more brutal and my injuries kept piling up. I decided to use my knowledge to help others rather than spend my life injured with no real job prospects at the end.”

Three-minute morning workout that boosts your metabolism – ideal for time-pressed Hongkongers

Now director of DNAFit in Central, Poole has grown a career helping pro athletes stay healthy, while helping people get the most out of their workouts by knowing a bit more about who they are – at the cellular level. Here he elaborates on how he does it.