THE WEIGHT LOSS SECRET IN YOUR DNA

The latest theory is that our individual genes determine the best way for each of us to diet. We put it to the test

This is the scientific breakthrough that promises to take the guesswork out of dieting.

A simple swab is taken from the inside of your cheek and posted to a laboratory. There, scientists analyse your DNA, examining your genetic make-up. Most crucial are genes that influence body size and weight, fat processing and storage, ability to lose weight and maintain it, plus the likelihood of developing high cholesterol.

For example, around one in five Europeans carry a gene making them more likely to eat high-carbohydrate food. Another gene, called MTiF3, has been linked to increased body size and also to the regaining of weight after dieting. And a variant of the FTO gene, which controls appetite, has been dubbed the ‘fat gene’, because it’s linked to impulse eating and weight gain.

Armed with this information, experts formulate a diet tailored to your genetic make-up — recommending meal plans, portion sizes and even exercise regimes. There are 180 variations of meal plans based on common regimes including high protein, low carb, high fat, high Omega-3 and Mediterranean diets, and may be customised depending on how the body reacts to certain foods and whether the goal is to lose or maintain weight.

some studies suggest a genetically tailored regime could increase weight loss by as much as 40 per cent, while harvard researchers found ‘preliminary but promising’ evidence for the trend.

But many scientists remain sceptical. ‘it’s true we all have gene variants that determine how we metabolise different components of food,’ says Professor Bill Newman, who studies genetics at Manchester University. ‘But our knowledge of these factors is limited. Even more limited is evidence that applying certain diets in the light of having a specific profile of genetic variants is of any benefit.’

so, is DNA dieting a gimmick or a breakthrough? We asked seven serial dieters to take a £59 test offered by myDNA, available online or at Lloyds Pharmacy, which gives you a diet plan tailored to your results.

After four months, how have they got on?