Over the last few years, thousands of different weight loss treatments have been developed, ranging from simple diet and exercise plans, to individualized solutions that test DNA and genetic makeup of a person to provide them with a unique lifestyle plan to help them improve their weight management skills, and their overall wellbeing. A lot of the latest information regarding weight loss approaches tend to describe how genetic testing and the tailoring of a weight loss plan based on the individual’s genetic makeup is a more appropriate option for losing weight effectively. This makes sense to some extent, as genetic makeup is known to affect metabolism, carbohydrate uptake and many other factors involved in weight gain and weight loss.

With a large number of studies describing the benefits of genetic testing for weight loss, a new study has been conducted to determine the effect that genetic makeup may have on a person’s efforts to lose weight. Their findings, however, was not in favor of these new publications, as they found that genetics does not seem to affect weight loss results as much as previously thought. In this guide, we would like to take a closer look at the findings of this new study.

Study Finds Genetics Not To Be A Problem When Eating Healthy For Weight Loss

With more than two in every three adults in the United States being obese, as reported by the National Institutes of Health, quick weight loss solutions are often desired by millions. There are many different approaches people can take when it comes to losing weight, and most recently, DNA and genetic testing to provide a unique weight loss plan for individuals is the strategy that has been on everyone’s mind. Quite a large number of claims have been made regarding this new strategy, such as that people can lose weight considerably faster and in a safer way, as well as that people will be able to keep the weight off more effectively when their diet has been tailored to fit their genetic profile.

Unfortunately for those who have paid a large sum of money for such an approach to weight loss, a study published on The JAMA Network, conducted by a research team at Stanford University Medical School, found that the genetic profile of a person does not make as much of a difference when simple healthy eating habits are strictly followed.

A total of 609 adults participated in the study, all of whom were considered to be overweight. The study stretched over a relatively long period, analyzing the participants at the start of the study and again one year after the initiation of the study. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups:

• The first group was provided a healthy low-fat diet plan.

• The second group was provided a healthy low-carbohydrate diet plan.

Participants were asked to follow these diet plans over a period of 12 months, and to then report back in order to be analyzed again. The participants were aged from 28 up to 40. None of the participants had been diagnosed with diabetes. At the beginning of the study, each participant’s details were compiled in a report to match against the results of both diet plans.

After the 12-month period has passed, the study participants reported back. Their weight was measured and compared to their initial weight. When it comes to weight loss, the following findings were made:

• Participants who followed the healthy low-fat diet plan had an average weight reduction of 5.3 kilograms.
• Participants who followed the healthy low-carbohydrate plan had an average weight reduction of 6.0 kilograms.

Apart from looking at whether a healthy low-fat diet and healthy low-carbohydrate diet would have different results on bodyweight within a 12-month period, the study also analyzed whether insulin secretion and 3 genotype patterns, known as single-nucleotide polymorphism multilocus responsiveness patterns, had any effect on the results that were obtained by the study participants.

After testing these data amongst all participants, the study concluded that no significant effect was detected that could possibly indicate that the genetic profile and insulin secretion of any single individual who participated in the study had a considerable impact on their ability to reduce their excess weight. Thus, the study has provided evidence that there is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on genetic and DNA testing, but rather to simply start eating healthily and positive results will be sure to follow.

Conclusion

Numerous publications have reported genetic makeup to play a significant role in a person’s ability to achieve quick weight loss, but a new study suggests that genetic makeup does not play such an important role. The study concluded that weight loss could be achieved by eating a healthy diet that mostly consists of vegetables, regardless of the insulin activity of a person and regardless of their genetic makeup.