​Can A DNA Test Really Help You Lose Weight?

#1

It seems as though a new diet hits the market every other week. Needless to say, wading through the endless sea of Whole30, high-protein, low-carb, and everything in between can be exhausting. But the reason we have all these endless options is because, as anyone who has ever tried to lose weight can tell you, different diets work for different people. Unfortunately for many, finding which diet and exercise routine is right for you usually involves a lot of trial and error. But one company is trying to change that.

#2

This test is designed for those who already have, or are approaching, an overweight or obese status, or simply those who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In addition, this test is also advisable for people afraid of the genetic load of obesity because of its prevalence with their families. It should also be noted that this test identifies genes that are known in relation to insomnia, anxiety, and memory issues. The recommendations are formulated on the basis of a test result for an individual genotype and predominantly relates to diet, physical activity and psycho dietetics.

#3 Claims

Companies promoting genetic testing for weight loss focus on the role of genes in weight gain, according to MayoClinic.com. The tests provide genetic information about metabolism and fat absorption, which can then be used to generate a genetic profile. Companies claim that this genotype can then help to determine which diet would be most effective for you.

#4

The researchers looked at 683 men and women ages 18 to 73 from the Food4Me trial, a U.K.-based trial that delivers personalized nutrition and support via the Internet to adults. All the participants were screened for the FTO genetic variation, a trait that’s associated with weight gain. One group was told that they carried this variation, and they received personalized nutrition guidance. In previous research, people who carry the trait are particularly susceptible to saturated fats, benefit from increasing their intake of healthy omega-3 fats (the kind in fish and walnuts, for example), and respond well to exercise.

While the differences between the groups were small—the FTO group lost about a half-pound more and trimmed an additional inch of their waistlines compared to a control group after six months—the researchers were nonetheless enthusiastic about the results. “We think that personalized (nutrition) advice is more effective because it engages each individual better and motivates them to make specific behavioral changes and to sustain those changes,” says study author John C. Mathers, director of the Human Nutrition Research Centre at Newcastle University.

#5 Method

A test marketed by Interleukin Genetics asks you to swab the inside of your cheek to collect DNA. Scientists at a laboratory then look for single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, in four different genes to create a weight-management profile. Single nucleotide polymorphisms are the most common type of genetic variation among people, according to the National Institutes of Health. Each SNP signifies a difference in a single DNA building block known as a nucleotide.

#6 How do the tests help with weight loss?

The Smart DNA tests examine a variety of genes involved in body composition, including one that controls your body's ability to mobilize fat. If you have a mutation, or alteration, in that gene, it means your weight-loss efforts will be more affected by eating refined, processed carbohydrates than someone without the mutation because, for you, carbohydrates interfere with how your body processes fat.

A mutation in another gene that's included in the test means you're likely to get better weight-loss results by eating more fiber, which for certain people helps increase levels of a protein that regulates glucose levels in the blood and boosts the breakdown of fatty acids.

"The tests can also assess how you respond to stress, which is important because when the body goes into a state of excess stress, it starts to store fat,” says Burford. "And we can work out which of your body's detoxification pathways need to be supported in order to help make weight loss as successful as possible."

#7 The bottom line:

Your lifestyle matters more. The diet you eat every day makes a bigger difference in your weight, says Mathers. If you’re overweight and want to lose pounds, the advice to eat fewer fatty and sugary foods and more fruits and veggies still stands, he says. “Most people gain weight gradually over many months and years. Weight loss can take a while so patience and determination are keys to success,” Mathers adds. Plateaued? Here are 17 ways to start losing again.