Obesity gene testing does not put people off weight loss and may
help to reduce self-blame, according to a new study by researchers
from the Health Behaviour Research Centre at UCL.
Previous studies have shown that genes play a role in a person's
risk of becoming overweight. One gene, called FTO, has been found
to have the biggest influence so far.
FTO has two variants, one associated with greater risk of weight
gain (A) and one associated with lower risk (T). One in two people
carries at least one copy of the A variant. People who inherit two
A variants (one from their mother and one from their father) are 70
per cent more likely to become obese than those with two T
variants. Even those who inherit one have a higher weight than
those with two T variants.
Researchers can now use a gene test for FTO (although this is
not yet commercially available). However, it was not known how
people would react to finding out the results of the genetic
test.
Some clinicians thought it would help people to become motivated
to manage their weight. Others thought that the 'genes as destiny'
perspective might mean people felt there was nothing they could do
about their weight. If people responded fatalistically it could be
harmful because diet and exercise are still very important for
health and weight control, perhaps even more so if a person is
'battling against their biology'.
UCL's Professor Jane Wardle and Susanne Meisel decided to test
18 volunteers for their FTO status and interview them about their
experience. The sample of volunteers included men and women, who
spanned the weight range from underweight to obese.
They found that the volunteers were very enthusiastic about
receiving their genetic test result. Those who struggled with their
weight said that the genetic test result was helpful because it
removed some of the emotional stress attached to weight control and
relieved some of the stigma and self-blame.
No one reported a negative reaction to the genetic test result,
or said it made them feel there was nothing they could do to about
their weight.
Susanne Meisel, who led the study said: "These results are
encouraging. Regardless of gene status or weight, all the
volunteers recognised that both genes and behaviour are important
for weight control. The results indicate that people are unlikely
to believe that genes are destiny and stop engaging with weight
control once they know their FTO status. Although they knew that
FTO's effect is only small, they found it motivating and
informative. We are now doing a larger study to confirm whether
more people react in the same way."
The paper, 'Battling my Biology': Psychological Effects of Genetic Testing for
Risk of Weight Gain, is published in the Journal of
Genetic Counseling.