Genetic Testing for Weight Loss

Your Genes Have A Lot To Do With Your Jeans

Most people can look at pictures of 20 years ago and think, “Wow…I was so skinny back then.” That thought is quickly led to other thoughts, “I wish I could back to that size.” “I need to diet.” “Why can’t I eat junk food and not gain weight like back then?” 

The simple answer to all of those thoughts and questions is your genetic predisposition to weight gain. Dr. Brandon Colby, MD, a Medical Geneticist, and Preventive Medicine expert, says that people who are genetically predisposed to weight gain usually do so after their child-bearing years (yes, that includes men).

The genes know that bodies need to be slim and healthy during the time offspring should be created to produce healthy humans. 

After the childbearing years (around 35 years old), genes know the time to have children is passing so they no longer need to keep the body as healthy. This is when the weight starts packing on - does that fit your timeline? 

Not everyone has the same genetic makeup to gain weight. That’s why you see older people who are as slim as they were when they were younger. They simply do not have the predisposition to gain weight. 

Genetic Testing Doesn’t Dictate the Future

Just because a genetic test comes back saying that someone is predisposed to being overweight, it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing the person can do to keep it from happening. A genetic test is not absolute. 

Obesity is not something that is uncontrollable. While there are factors that can make it more difficult to lose weight, such as certain medication side effects and sensitivity to carbohydrates (carbs) or fat, most of these factors can be eliminated to lower body weight. 

How Genetic Testing for Weight Loss Works

⁠Does DNA work for weight loss? Many people ask this question and the answer is yes. This is how it works:

Gene variants can cause people to be at higher risk of being overweight or obese. DNA testing looks at those genetic markers, also known as variants, that researchers have identified as being related to weight. The genetic test results show if people have the variants on those markets that other people have that are overweight or obese. 

Genetic information from DNA results can be used in many ways to manage weight. Many people take their genetic profile to a nutritionist or dietitian so a meal plan or weight loss plan can be created based on them.

Many Registered Dietitians and nutritionists use ⁠DNA testing for weight loss diets. They believe that the information gained from the DNA tests is highly valuable.  

Losing weight isn’t just about healthy eating. It’s about eating foods and moving in the way that the body responds to the best. The only way to know what foods and what physical activity is to have DNA tested for a personalized diet 

A recent study has shown that women who ate according to their DNA results lose more weight than those who didn’t eat according to the genetic makeup. 

What Genetic Testing Shows to Help with Weight Loss

Genetic testing with Sequencing.com’s Weight Loss analysis app informs users if they would be more successful at losing weight if they consume a low carb or low-fat diet. It may recommend a Mediterranean diet if the DNA shows the person’s body efficiently uses the foods in that diet as fuel.

Sugar is often blamed for weight gain, but if glucose levels aren’t negatively affected by it then it may not be the reason. All of this information can be found with genetic testing for weight loss. 

The Benefits of Genetic Testing for Weight Loss

By knowing what causes weight gain, people can make changes to their lifestyle to be a healthy weight. This reduces their body mass index, which then leads to a decrease in risk for many medical conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease. 

In addition to not dealing with life-threatening medical conditions, people who are healthier have more money. This usually happens because they don’t have to spend so much money on health care costs. 

Weight management to lower body fat all starts with genetic testing to identify genetic variants that suggest an elevated risk of being overweight. 

Best DNA Test for Weight Loss

Health and wellness start with knowledge about the body. A ⁠weight loss DNA test can start the process of gaining that knowledge.

While Sequencing.com sells DNA test kits for weight loss (Ultimate DNA Test and Whole Genome Sequencing), the apps on the site can also use raw data files from 23andMe, MyHeritage, Dante Labs, Ancestry.com, and other DNA testing companies. Most of these companies either require DNA testers to submit a DNA sample by spitting into a test tube or swab the cheek. The sample is then mailed to a lab for analysis. 

A genomics lab will then perform DNA testing upon and the results will be a computer file that contains the genetic makeup of the. This raw DNA data file is considered the ‘results’ of the test. The next step is called interpretation, which is when the raw DNA data is transformed into understandable information.

For example, the laboratory DNA test will obtain raw DNA data on genes involved in weight gain, such as the FTO gene. The data, however, is just a bunch of letters. The raw DNA data can then be processed through a computer software application that interprets the data in the FTO gene and generates a DNA report from the data. This report is what provides information on whether a genetic predisposition to weight gain is detected.

Sequencing.com is a DNA app store for many different types of interpretation apps. Anyone can sign onto Sequencing and use DNA apps to interpret their DNA. For example, the Weight Loss app evaluates many different genes that are all responsible for contributing to weight gain.

If changes in those genes are detected, the report generated by that app will show an elevated risk of being overweight or obese. Reports not only include information about risk but, more importantly, they also include nutritional information that can be used for dieting purposes as well as effective types of exercises. 

Losing weight isn’t a one size fits all type of activity. A person’s genetic makeup, which is also known as their genotype, has a lot to do with how easy or difficult it is to lose weight and gain weight. If you’ve been struggling with your weight management, consider genetic testing for weight loss. It may just be the key to opening the door to faster and easier weight loss.