Energy balance
A 6-month dietary intervention producing a 500 kcal/day energy deficit yields similar weight loss outcomes regardless of an individual's high or low genetic predisposition to higher BMI, as measured by genome-wide polygenic scores.
If you are overweight or mildly obese, a standard dietary intervention creating a 500 kcal/day deficit will likely help you lose weight, regardless of your genetic risk for obesity. You do not need a specialized or 'genetic' diet to succeed; standard caloric restriction is effective for everyone in this range.
In this randomised trial, genetic predisposition as measured by BMI PS did not modify response to dietary intervention, indicating that leveraging polygenic scores may not enhance the effectiveness of personalized weight loss strategies.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial with a genetic-first recruitment strategy maximizing power to detect differential effects.
Source
Effect of a Dietary Intervention on Weight Loss in Adults with High vs Low Genetic Predisposition to Higher BMI: A Randomized Diet Intervention Trial
Rodosthenis S. Rodosthenous et al. · medRxiv · 2025
DOI 10.1101/2025.10.06.25337395
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