You must have tried several weight loss plans in the past and succeeded for a short time before regaining the weight you have lost. Some regain much more weight than they have lost. You also must be wondering why a certain weight loss plan helped someone but did not help you.
Why can’t I lose weight by dieting?
Everybody’s body and genetic makeup is different.
With recent research, we do know that there are several factors involved, that control your body weight. It is not just about eating less and exercising more. Research has now revealed the extent to which our genetics control our metabolism and thereby affect our ability to lose weight. Sleep quality, meal times, food sensitivity and stress are some of the other factors which interfere with weight loss.
When there are so many factors involved, just focussing on eating less and exercising more does not help and hence people find it very hard to lose weight.
Why do diets fail?
As explained above most weight loss programmes are still relying on the old myth of “calorie intake & calories burnt”. There are several factors involved in controlling body weight. These include your hunger pattern, food preferences, food sensitivity, sleep hygiene, satiety or fullness, exercise resistance, brown fat activity and many more.
Personalised gene-based interventions are now becoming a reality. Nutrigenomics and personalised intervention based on genetic analysis help people who have struggled to lose weight using standard weight loss programmes. However, a genetic defect, which is identified on testing, may not always be expressed and hence you need personalised and intensive support for long-term success.
The genetic defects will determine if you have a protective or negative genotype.
How can identifying a genetic defect help with weight loss?
Our genes control the way we metabolise food and how we burn calories. Genes also determine our taste, mood, sleep and a number of other factors related to weight loss.
As an example, here we will discuss the FTO gene or the obesity gene. FTO gene is known to be associated with body composition and fat distribution. Studies have shown that people who have FTO gene variant lost more weight including fat if they consumed a moderate to high protein food. This group of people who followed this diet lost more visceral fat, which is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Weight regain could also be predicated as in the FTO gene variant as they also lost muscle mass. By planning ahead for people with this gene variant weight regain can be avoided. So, if you know what genes you have, a personalised plan could be incorporated for long term success.
Genetics of obesity
Research shows that more than 80% of obesity-related genes are mainly expressed in the brain. A gene is the basic functional unit of heredity and genes are made up of DNA. All the defects identified do get expressed, which means that even though you have a genetic defect you may not have a problem. You need a specialist team to support you in weight loss based on the results.
Please see below some genes which will be tested:
- TFF7L2-Insulin secretion
- LEPR-Appetite control
- FTO-Obesity and Type 2 diabetes
- COMT- Stress
- FKBPS-Cortisol regulation
- ACE-Blood pressure and electrolyte imbalance
- CLOCK-sleep and diurnal rhythm
DNA analysis for digestion, sleep, exercise, stimulants, metabolism and stress would be analysed before providing a personalised weight management programme. The tests and interpretation of results will vary from person to person.
If you have been through several weight loss plans and have regained weight and would like to join this programme, please email us for more details on [email protected]
Watch our video on the DNA for Weight Loss Plan
