Should You Try DNA Testing for Weight Loss?
Whether you’ve been working towards a weight loss goal for a while or are just starting out your journey, you might be wondering what you can do to optimize your success.
I’m not talking about crash diets or extreme exercise routines. Nope, I’m talking about a tool that can help you achieve lasting, sustainable results and feel your best: DNA testing for weight loss.
You’re probably familiar with at-home tests that can tell you more about your ancestry. But peeking into your genetic makeup offers a glimpse at more than just where you great-great grandparents may have come from. It can give you information that can potentially be used to protect and improve your health.
It’s no secret that weight loss isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. Some people can eat pizza and ice cream on a near-daily basis and still struggle to put on weight. (Not that I’d recommend it!) For others, it might feel like just looking a donut is enough to make your pants feel tight.
Knowing your individual genome can tell you more about how your body works. And that can help you and your dietitian develop an eating plan that’s tailored to your unique needs.
Skeptical? Here are just a few of the things you can find out when you take a DNA test geared towards weight loss:
How likely you are to struggle with weight—and what you can do about it.
Certain genotypes may be more likely to have issues with satiety, emotional eating, sweet cravings, and even addictive behaviors. If these are roadblocks for you, your dietitian can share strategies to help you cope.
Whether you’re likely to gain weight from certain foods.
Did you know that some foods—even healthy ones—are more likely to cause weight gain for some people? For instance, certain genotypes have a higher risk for gaining weight from monounsaturated fats, the good fats found in olive oil, avocado, and nuts. A dietitian can help you figure out how to balance your consumption of these foods so you can reap the health benefits without impacting the number on the scale.
Which types of exercise are best for managing your cholesterol.
You likely know that regular physical activity is huge for keeping your cholesterol in check. What you might not be aware of? Depending on your genotype, certain types of exercise may be more beneficial than others. That can help you and your dietitian figure out which activities will give you the most bang for your workout buck.
Want to try DNA weight loss testing?
Good news! My private practice and team of dietitians now offers this very service! At Vernon Center for Nutrition we now offer easy at-home health and genetic testing for our clients. (All you have to do is send in a cheek swab!) In addition to receiving a comprehensive report highlighting your genetic variations, we’ll do a one-on-one consult of your test results and put together an action plan.
To learn more about the tests or get started, just click here.
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