Does DNA Work for Weight Loss?

If you’re considering DNA testing to help you lose weight and research, “Does DNA work for weight loss?” you’ll be confronted with information for and against its use. Studying genetic makeup for weight information is still in its infancy, but researchers have already discovered enough to help people manage their weight. 

DNA Works for Weight Loss if Used to Lose Weight

That’s right. Learning about your genotype won’t magically cause you to lose weight. It is what you do with the information that can help you lose weight. 

The actual DNA test does not help people lose weight. It’s the actions that come from the information derived from the genetic test that helps people lose weight. 

People who are not committed to doing what it takes to lose weight, such as diet and exercise, will not find genetic information helpful. Genetic predispositions to obesity do not mean that you’re destined to be overweight. It merely means that you may have to work harder to maintain a healthy weight. Rachel Mills, a genetic counselor is right when she told ⁠Women’s Health, “Just because a genetic report says that you are less likely to lose weight, that is not an absolute.” A diet plan and exercise plan are what will help maintain a healthy body fat percentage. 

Many people who read this article will tell themselves that the only reason we’re for genetic testing is that we are a DNA testing company. While much of that is true, it’s not the only reason why we believe it. We wouldn’t offer it as part of our App Marketplace if it didn’t DNA didn’t work for weight loss. 

Research in nutrigenomics cannot be denied. Studies have found 40 to 70 percent of body mass index (BMI) is affected by genetic factors. Yes, that is a wide range, but even individuals whose genetic contribute to 40 percent of their BMI are only 10 percent from having half of their BMI attributed to their genetics. 

Let us emphasize that a genetic predisposition to being obese DOES NOT mean you have to be obese. 

The DNA Diet

The DNA diet isn’t a diet in the traditional sense. Dieting has gotten a bad rap over the last year or so. It’s not a bad thing, though. Dieting simply means watching what you’re eating not trying to eat as little as possible. By watching what you’re eating with diet plans, you’ll have an easier time with weight management. This will benefit you in your overall wellness. When your body is strong and healthy, your mind will follow.

Genetic testing tells you how well your body processes macronutrients - carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. If the test comes back showing you have a difficult time processing carbs, you’ll know that you should follow a low-carb diet. Not eliminate them, but reduce the amount you consume. If the test results come back showing your body has a tough time utilizing fat efficiently, you know to avoid diets high in fat, such as the keto diet and the paleo diet, and instead focus on low-fat diets.

A study presented at an American Heart Association event found that women whose diets matched their genetic test results ⁠lost two to three times more weight than those whose diets were supposedly incompatible with their genes.

Dieting has gotten a bad rap over the last year or so. It’s not a bad thing, though. Dieting simply means watching what you’re eating. By watching what you’re eating with diet plans, you’ll have an easier time with weight management. This will benefit you in your overall wellness. When your body is strong and healthy, your mind will follow.

Dietitians and nutritionists use genomics to help their patients as well. They use it as a way to understand their patients better so they can help them achieve their weight loss goals. They don’t necessarily call it the DNA diet, but they see it as just another piece of the puzzle. Just like how they use medical information from their patients’ doctors to ensure that their patients need to limit salt intake due to high blood pressure. 

Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

Can you just eat healthy foods and exercise to lose weight? 

Healthy eating and exercising are beneficial to the body, but you can still experience weight gain while engaging in those activities. While eating healthy foods is better for your body, overeating them can lead to weight gain just the same as eating unhealthy foods. 

A DNA test provides you with the information needed to know what healthy foods you should eat more or less of so you can stay within the amount your body needs to function optimally. 

Re-Focus for Better Weight Loss

Personalized nutrition is gaining popularity. Many DNA testing companies are entering the industry with testing kits and reports focusing on weight management. Sites like 23andMe, MyHeritage, Dante Labs, and Sequencing.com provide easy to use DNA kits to collect samples. All you have to do is swab your cheek and send it to the lab for raw DNA data. That data can be analyzed to find out more about why you struggle with weight loss or why you have gained so much weight. 

Dieting and exercise aren’t a one-size-fits type of solution for weight loss. What you eat and how you exercise matters. You need to know what your unique body needs and wants, so you can structure your diet and exercise in a way that helps the body be as healthy as possible. 

One way to do that is to have your DNA analyzed with the Weight Loss app on Sequencing.com. 

Personalized Weight Loss Plan

Our Weight Loss app provides an empowering report packed with genetically tailored insights for decreasing body fat while optimizing nutrition and fitness.

This app performs a comprehensive analysis of your DNA and provides actionable insights about:

• Aerobic performance
• Carb Overconsumption
• Difficulty in Losing Weight
• Exercise Aversion
• Exercise Benefits for Lowering Cholesterol
• Exercise Benefits for Maximal Oxygen Uptake Response
• Fat Overconsumption
• Fat Taste Perception
• Joint Injury Risk
• Lean Body Mass Potential
• Low Protein Intake Risk
• Low Resting Metabolic Rate
• Low-carb Diet Effectiveness
• Low-fat Diet Effectiveness
• Mediterranean Diet Effectiveness
• Monounsaturated Fats Increased Benefits
• Muscle Response to Resistance Training
• Muscle Strength Loss
• Overall Fitness Benefits
• Overweight Potential
• Polyunsaturated Fats Increased Benefits
• Risk from Saturated Fats
• Satiety Impairment
• Slow Muscle Repair
• Snacking
• Starch Metabolism
• Sweet Tooth
• Trans Fats Sensitivity

How to Get Started with DNA Weight Loss

DNA kits are available from Sequencing.com with two types to choose from - the Ultime DNA Test or Ultime Genome Sequencing. ⁠Simply click here to order your DNA test kit online.

If you’ve already taken a DNA test through a genetic testing company such as 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, or DanteLabs, you can upload your raw DNA data to your account on Sequencing.com. Our ⁠genetic testing for weight loss app will analyze your DNA and generate a personalized report.

⁠Click here to purchase the report once the raw DNA data has been uploaded to your secure and confidential account. Our ⁠Privacy First commitment ensures your data remains private. We never sell or share your data, including your DNA data, with anyone.