Can your genes predict the best weight loss diet for you?

The Study

It has been hypothesized that your genetic makeup can predict which weight loss strategy will be the most effective for you. In this interesting study, 609 adults were randomized to either a low-fat or low-carb diet for 12 months. Previous research has suggested that a certain genotype that impacts carbohydrate metabolism may help a person be more successful with a low-carb diet. Similarly, another genotype that influences fat metabolism has been identified that may make a person more successful on a low-fat diet. Before the trial began, subjects were tested for this low-fat or low-carb response gene sequence.  

Among the participants randomized to the low-fat diet, 130 had the low-fat gene and 83 had the low-carb gene. Among the participants randomized to the low-carb diet, 114 had the low-fat gene and 97 had the low-carb gene. By the end of the 12 month follow-up, there were no differences in weight lost between the two groups and neither the low-fat or low-carb genotype predicted weight loss success.

Journal of the American Medical Association 2018; 319:667.

Take Home Message

Although the idea that our genes can tell us what weight loss diet is best for us is intriguing, this study does not provide evidence that this is the case. More research is needed before we can definitively answer this question.