People carrying the obesity gene are not at a disadvantage when it comes to weight loss, new research shows.
The international study that looked at the relationship between the FTO gene and weight loss interventions in almost 10,000 participants found no relationship between FTO and the ability to lose weight.
“Individuals carrying the minor allele respond equally well to dietary, physical activity, or drug based weight loss interventions
“Genetic predisposition to obesity associated with the FTO minor allele can be at least partly counteracted through such interventions,” concluded the study authors in their paper published in The BMJ.
The results suggested that screening for the FTO genotype in routine clinical practice would not predict weight loss success.