Scientists have suggested that the millions of people who strive to keep in shape sticking to jogging, swimming or hitting the gym are merely wasting their time.

Researchers at the University of London discovered that around 20 per cent of people who follow regular aerobic exercise regime did not fetched any significant health benefits which are determined by our genes and can vary substantially between individuals.

James Timmons of the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London, who initiated the study, revealed that the study would pave the way for more personalized treatments, with patients able to undergo DNA tests to find out the most effective way of keeping their own hearts healthy.

However, for these people, regular jogging and gym work will fetch very less to get rid of conditions like heart disease and diabetes which aerobic exercise is generally thought to resist.

Principal investigator James Timmons, from the Royal Veterinary College, suggested many other ways of keeping healthy, such as improving diet or taking medication, may pose better results.

The research, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, reported to involve more than 500 participants in Europe and the US were asked to undergo various aerobic training programs in line with government advice to do
30 minutes of exercise five times a week.