Genes Determine

Most people, scientists included, are confused about the best diet for weight loss and promoting metabolic health. Some studies found that high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets, such as the Ornish diet, are best, while others support high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins diet. A Stanford University study led by Christopher Gardner showed that genes determine the best diet for each person. About 39 percent of people have a genetic makeup that responds best to a low-fat diet, 45 percent respond best to a low-carbohydrate diet, and 16 percent must limit both fat and carbohydrate intake. Women on a weight-loss diet appropriate for their genetic makeup lost more than 5 percent of bodyweight, while subjects who consumed a diet inappropriate for their genes lost only 2.3 percent. A Massachusetts company called Interleukin will perform a genetic test that determines which diet is best for you (price $149). (Reuters, Paper presented at American Heart Association Meeting)