Everyone is looking for that magic pill or special trick to lose weight and keep it off. Most of us have tried just about every diet fad on the market to achieve this goal, with varying degrees of success. Thankfully, as science advances, we learn more about how the physiology of weight gain and fat loss works, which helps to demystify this age old dilemma. 

One such advancement comes from a local company, aptly named DNAlysis, who claims that they can take the guesswork out of finding the right diet for your body and genetic makeup. They do this through nutritional genomics, otherwise known as personalised nutrition, which uses internationally applicable DNA analysis technology to explore the relationship between our diet and our genes.

“Much of what we know today came about through the Human Genome Project, an international project aimed at elucidating the sequence of the human genome, or in lay terms, 'reading the bases' that make up our DNA,” explains DNAlysis CEO, Dr. Daniel Meyersfeld. “Since the first draft was published in 2003, a fortune of information has become available about our genes, the function of these genes, how the genes are regulated and how tiny differences in the DNA of two individuals can have profoundly different effects. This has given us a great deal of insight into the human body, from our response to various medications and our predisposition to disease, to weight loss and our specific response to various exercise modalities. Everyday life choices around diet, health and lifestyle can now also, to a large extent, be influenced by knowledge of our DNA.” 

Yael Joffe RD, Director of Nutrition at DNAlysis explains that the reason for these genetic differences lies in small changes in your DNA code. “There are about three billion letters in your DNA code and in certain portions of the population a 'spelling change' occurs. This can change the code for a specific amino acid in the body, which can subsequently change a protein and the way it functions. These spelling changes are not all bad, but they can have an impact on hormone and enzyme function, which is what can affect a person's response to food or exercise, or predispose you to alcohol abuse and nicotine addiction, amongst other things.” 

The DNAlysis weight management test, DNA Diet, provides dieticians with additional insights into an individual's responsiveness to different weight management interventions and their propensity to gain weight. Meyersfeld states that 40-50% of our ability to effectively lose weight is based on our genetic makeup. “There are specific genetic differences that affect how we respond to various diets. Some people may find it more difficult to lose weight, while others may respond better to low carb, low Glycaemic Index (GI), high protein or low fat diets. The problem has always been knowing which one works best for you. But now, with our DNA-based product offering, you can skip the guesswork and go straight to a science-backed personalised diet plan.”

The small change that occurs in our DNA code is known as a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism or SNP. By identifying what SNPs our DNA code has we can change or compensate for these changes. “These spelling changes are what makes us different and changes the way we respond to different elements,” she continues. “This means that the basis of everything we do is centred around personalisation and responsiveness, as not everyone responds in the same way to diet and exercise. What we do, on a basic level, is interpret the language of DNA and determine what your DNA sequence tells us, by reading your code. Once we identify the polymorphisms from these tests we have the information we need to determine how various processes work in your body or what you respond better to, in order to design a suitable diet or exercise intervention. Different genes will also tell us different things, which is why we don't merge all of our tests together. It is better to focus on one aspect at a time.” 

The DNAlysis DNA Diet test works by testing your DNA, through the use of a cheek swab, which is then mailed back to the company. Eight markers on seven specific genes have been identified that offer insight into your genetic makeup that specifically relate to food and energy metabolism. These markers are tested and the resultant information is then used to establish a healthy personalised eating plan to help you achieve your optimal weight. “From the test we can then prescribe a low fat, low carb, low GI or balanced diet plan, which are the most common types of diets, but this time we have workable science supporting the diet choice,” explains Joffe. 

“However, we don't include any genes in our tests that you can't apply an intervention to correct,” she continues. “The genes currently related to weight, for instance, only have eight variations and we will only add more if the gene has been well researched and is valid to the population and their daily lives. This is because genes could have 100 SNPs that may say you are at risk for obesity, but there is currently nothing we can do about it. That is not useful information to our clients.”


Right now DNA Diet can tell you what the right diet is for you based on your response to macronutrients, and it will tell you if you have any genetic barriers to changing your physique or what affects your metabolic rate. “We can also tell you if diet is more important than exercise in achieving your weight loss goals, or vice versa, and we can also determine how responsive you will be to exercise. This can be as specific as telling you that you need to do a lot of MET hours or that walking or doing pilates will help you lose weight. This information will help you change the way you exercise and ensure you do what is best to achieve your goals, be it high intensity, short duration power sessions or steady state cardio.” 

DNAlysis also examines the genes that determine fat absorption, to tell if you are predisposed to absorbing more fat from your diet. This also applies to variations in the genes that influence energy production and carb utilisation, which is information you would never know without the test. “For instance, there is only a small percentage of people who respond to low carb diets, and there are also people who exercise a great deal and never lose weight because they respond better to diet,” explains Joffe. “The trick is to therefore take your information to a specialist who can use the specific data and personalise it to determine the best diet and/or exercise plan for you and your goals. 

“We currently have over 135 dietitians in training, with 45 who have already qualified to prescribe diets based on the DNA Diet test, and they are seeing great results. We are also working with the Exercise Teachers Academy (ETA) to offer an advanced training short-course for personal fitness trainers and all other practitioners, so that they can learn to read, interpret and use our technology to achieve the best results in the gym. What is also really exciting is that a number of international markets are adopting the course too.”

Our genes also significantly affect our health and susceptibility to various chronic diseases. DNA Health is another test offered by DNAlysis that tests for variations in genes that play a crucial role in a number of metabolic processes, which are all key factors in determining the risk of contracting chronic diseases. “Many diseases are preventable through the correct diet and lifestyle choices,” says Meyersfeld. “DNA Health is therefore designed to help you make the best diet and lifestyle choices based on your unique DNA.”

Further plans include a DNA Fit test, which will be launched soon. This will test for your genetic predisposition to specific sporting activities or codes, which forms part of an emerging field of study called actigenetics. This can be used for recreational and performance athletes alike. “In the future we will also be able to advise on other elements, like a person's response to supplements or how they recover from training,” says Meyersfeld. “Other genes we will look at include those associated with tissue injury, which will help us determine a person's susceptibility to certain injuries and identify who the high risk athletes are so that we can strengthen their weak areas,” he concludes. 

So, if you are tired of trying diet and exercise programmes that never seem to work for you, despite all of your commitment and best efforts, then why not try one that is scientifically based on your unique DNA profile. Who knows, this may just be the key to unlocking your full genetic potential.