Mixed
High polygenic scores for obesity or type 2 diabetes significantly increase disease risk but are currently weak predictors of individual outcomes, necessitating the integration of lifestyle and environmental factors for accurate risk assessment.
Do not rely on direct-to-consumer genetic tests to predict your weight or diabetes risk. While you may have a higher genetic predisposition, these tests are currently poor predictors of individual outcomes. Focus on modifiable factors like diet, physical activity, and sleep, as these environmental factors interact with your genetics to determine your actual health status. Personalized care requires combining genetic insights with lifestyle data, not just genetics alone.
Even though the genetic associations observed in GWASs are robust, their ability to predict who will be at a high risk of obesity or type 2 diabetes is still low-to-moderate, and not ready for use in clinical settings... it is unlikely that a polygenic score on its own will ever be able to accurately predict obesity or type 2 diabetes. More comprehensive approaches that include a broad spectrum of genetic, demographic, environmental, clinical, and possibly also molecular markers are needed to accurately predict who is at risk of gaining weight and/or developing type 2 diabetes.
Why this rating
Based on large-scale GWAS data (UK Biobank) and Mendelian Randomization studies cited in the review.
Source
Metabolic consequences of obesity and type 2 diabetes: Balancing genes and environment for personalized care
Nicolas J. Pillon et al. · Cell · 2021
DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.012
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Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
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- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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