I tried DNA profiling to find out more about my diet, my health, and my genetic makeup. And ultimately what I can do with that information…

I’m a 53-year-old woman and like everyone, my feeds are filled with targeted ads. Top of the list appears to be ‘comfy’ bras, which is hilarious as I don’t wear bras (hoping the stupid tracking cookies pick that up now). But a very close second are swathes of companies touting hormonal weight loss solutions. Particularly aimed at menopausal women.

It’s 2023 and we all know that hormones affect your weight. Stress hormone cortisol helps makes you fat. Leptin, insulin, oestrogen etc influence our appetite, metabolism, and body fat distribution. At a time of my life when hormones are in flux, this seems a sensible thing to look at.

Is my weight and health trajectory written in the DNA stars?

But I wanted to take this one step further and look at my genetic makeup, and how that influences my body and health. Is my weight and health trajectory written in the DNA stars? How much of what makes up my DNA profile affects whether I’m fat, thin, healthy, have a heart problem, lose my marbles…

So I found Muhdo, and got in touch to explore my DNA destiny

Muhdo is a company that offers a bunch of bioinformation and epigenetic data services. For the purposes of this article, I picked the straightforward ‘DNA Health’ package (£125), although I think I have epigenetic data to follow. I can come back to this later if that’s the case.

They sent me a smart box in the post, with easy instructions and a reply-paid container to return my saliva sample in. I downloaded the app, answered all the questions, popped my drool in the post, and about two weeks later I got a text saying my results were in.

Crunch time

The first thing I see when I get the results is that I have a high ‘virus risk’ score. Great. There’s a list of ‘Genes of interest’ that relate to this (and to all the results), and underneath each result an explanation and some advice. I’ve screenshot some of this so you can see what it looks like, but missed out the bits about washing my hands properly and getting exercise, because, well duh.

As for the rest of it; well, it’s a very mixed bag. I’m going to go through just some of my key results here, because there is MASSES of information. It’s really interesting, actually. And each result, whether it’s good, bad, or indifferent, is accompanied by a breakdown of the genes, the condition, supportive advice and dietary advice, and a bunch of helpful links. There’s a lot of work gone into this.

Diet

Let’s start with the juicy stuff. The results are displayed in sliders that go from red to green, and here I’m a reasonably solid amber/normal average. My response to carbs is Normal, as is my ‘snacking risk’ (“Your genetics link you to a normal likelihood to snack”), metabolic rate, and fat distribution.

Talking of fats – neither saturated fat nor unsaturated fats are particularly my friends when it comes to weight. But interestingly I wouldn’t gain as much benefit from focusing on unsaturated fats as someone with a different genetic variant. The advice around fats for me is a mix – nut oils, flaxseeds, sardines, salmon, tofu are best. But saturated fat is also ok, and helps with the absorption of vits A, D, E and K. So easy on the fats for me, but not to obsess about cutting out saturates.

…my genetics apparently mean I’m not linked to a particularly strong fondness for sweet-tasting foods

In the green/positive corner I have a Good response to protein, which is useful to know, and there’s a list in the helpful bit about amino acids and the sources thereof. And my genetics apparently mean I’m not linked to a particularly strong fondness for sweet-tasting foods.

This feels right. I don’t really like sweet things like cake or chocolate. I’m not mad for puddings and will generally go for the cheese board at a restaurant. So I’m a bit surprised – and sad – to see that my genetics may cause me to be more sensitive to lactose, particularly as I age. And it’s the same with my sugar response, which is not just sugar, but all simple carbohydrates; sucrose, lactose, fructose, maltose (cereal grains) and so on.

I scoffed, thinking of how much I love a cheese sandwich. I eat loads of them! And then it dawns on me that I’m actually really fatigued. A lot. Could it be… could it be bread and cheese that’s doing this? Oh my god.

Read more: How to generate more collagen in a vegan or vegetarian diet

Health and Physical

Bit of a mixed bag here – and these are two separate sections. I’m lumping them together because ‘Health’ only has five areas.

On the Health section, I’m Normal for bone mineral density, obesity risk, and diabetes risk, so I can’t blame the spare tyre on genetics. Interestingly I have a sensitivity to caffeine, which again feels right. I can’t tolerate more than one cup of coffee before getting all antsy. And like the virus risk, I’ve got a higher than average chance of having colds and flus “compared to most people.”

Into the Physical and I’m thrilled to see that there are THREE sections in which I am Gifted. These are muscle power, muscle stamina, and power-to-weight ratio. I’m STRONG AS ALL HELL! I’m in roughly the top 15% of all people tested.

I also have an ‘above normal’ O2 usage. “You have gifted variants for oxygen usage… an increased VO2 max can lead to greater blood vessel dilation and therefore more nutrients being delivered around the body.” Perhaps this helps to inform the lower risk of inflammation that I also enjoy. “You have a lower inflammatory response and the genetic markers linked to inflammation are favourable for you.” Excellent.

The rest of the Physical section is firmly in the Normal zone, and that’s my anaerobic threshold, recovery rate, muscles mass, injury risk, lean body mass, and exercise effect on weight. Have to say, I’m pretty chuffed with the physical results. It’s a bit late for me to become a professional body builder, but this information is going to be useful at the gym.

There is a lot of data and information

You don’t really need to read much more about my results; there’s a heck of a lot of data. The vitamin profiling is interesting actually – I have a greater risk of vit D and selenium deficiency, for example, and would benefit from plenty of omegas and choline (had to look that one up). And again, there’s advice about where to get these things in your diet.

You can also download your raw genetic data, although goodness knows what you’d do with it

As well as the results, you get an outline Health Plan, a breakdown of your ‘DNA Diet’ balance which includes your metabolic rate, what your macros should be, when you should eat the most calories through the day, and a bunch of other guidance.

You don’t get a designed diet although I suspect that will come. What you do get though is the opportunity to set up your own tailored training plan based around your genetic results. You can also download your raw genetic data, although goodness knows what you’d do with it. I downloaded mine, just to have a look. It’s a weird feeling, seeing your very existence displayed as a massive list of numbers and codes.

Can it predict disease and death risk?

This is one of the questions I asked when interviewing Muhdo’s Wez before leaping into this. Would my DNA profile be able to predict whether I would be more likely to have cancer, dementia, a heart attack. He was keen to point out that this is not what Muhdo do – they’re about health and lifestyle. The option to delve deeper into those potential morbidity risks are available, but Muhdo doesn’t do this. And honestly, would you want to know?

“Apart from anything,” Wez said, “what a massive responsibility to deliver that sort of news to someone, you will probably get cancer. No, what we do is look at your genetics to help you improve your health, based on your makeup. That’s all.”

Muhdo don’t just do DNA reports though. There are brain training exercises, face scans/skincare analysis, and blood tests for things like cholesterol, antibody profiles, and thyroid performance.

So what next?

I’m going to take the information I have and make some lifestyle changes. Actually, I’m probably going to read it all again, and re-read it, because there’s a lot. But it feels like useful information to have, so I should use it.

I can see sugar, dairy and wheat taking more of a back seat, although I don’t plan to be militant about this. I’ll definitely bump up the Vit D, particularly as the shorter days draw in, and choline, which impacts liver function, healthy brain development, muscle movement, your nervous system and metabolism.

I’ll look into selenium, which is important for thyroid function, metabolism, and the immune system. For someone who is a bit tubby and will probably catch colds, this definitely sounds like a good thing to increase my intake of.

In terms of exercise and my awesome physical genetics I shall carry on doing nice long dog walks, but in the gym I will focus more on weights and resistance exercises. It’s something that’s advised for people over 50 anyway, so that’s all good.

Your data

If you’re worried about security and anonymity, Wez is keen to reassure me that I’m well protected. In the FAQs section of the site it states: “All our customers’ genetic data is triple locked. First our customers are anonymous to us in the database. Each customer is given a unique ID number, it is only with this code that the customer can unlock the data and have it displayed on their private mobile app. Secondly all customer data is encrypted throughout the data journey. So if anyone were to capture our data it would be both anonymous and encrypted. Thirdly we store customer genetic data on secure AWS servers.”

As for me…

I will be curious to see if the changes make me feel healthier and fitter, and if I lose weight. I’m interested also in the fact that some of the results felt completely right – like not having a sweet tooth, or being sensitive to coffee. But others less so – I’ve always assumed that I was able to tolerate wheat and dairy just fine, but hey. Maybe not.

If biohacking is something that interests you, this seems like a good place to start. I’ll let you know how I get on!

www.muhdo.com

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post I got DNA profiling to determine my diet and health appeared first on Silver Magazine.

For many of us, lockdown has been harsh, whether that be to our brains or our bodies. Our mental wellbeing has been affected by COVID, but our physical health has also taken a toll. And as you step cautiously on to the scales (again) you should perhaps be asking yourself, “am I obese?”

Sorry. Not a nice word, obese.

How did we get here?

With people furloughed, both working from home and generally being stuck indoors, physical activity fell. Walking to work, going out and about, gyms closed…

And who could forget the comfort eating (and drinking!) we did? Not that we’re judging – sometimes all that got us through the days was great portions of comfort food or a vast gin and tonic.

But the end result is unavoidable. Many of us have piled on weight, and January seems like a good time to look at this.

What actually is obesity?

If you’ve had to breathe in to do up your jeans after lockdown, or bought a bigger size, you’re probably thinking it’s not too serious. You’ve just put a bit on, right? But it’s easier to be clinically obese than you think.

[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]BMI is where you’ll find the truth, not on the bathroom scales[/perfectpullquote]

It’s not just about weight. It’s about your Body Mass Index (BMI), which takes into consideration your age and height too. It’s about distribution of weight, and lifestyle. As an example, you can be 5’3” and at 12 stone be classed as obese on the scale. But add another six inches at the same weight, and you’re defined as a healthy weight.

Many of us already know or have checked our BMIs, thinking perhaps we are only a few pounds overweight, only to be left horrified at the results. And it definitely feels harsher for shorter people! But the BMI is where you’ll find the truth, not on the bathroom scales.

If you’re not sure how to calculate your BMI, there’s an easy form on the NHS website.

So is it all about how fat you are?

Not really. Obesity isn’t about being perceived as visibly ‘fat’. It’s a name given to a category on a weight spectrum which exists to monitor health. Obesity can lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure which in turn can cause heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes.

Of course, being healthy isn’t just about the numbers; it’s also about exercise and diet. For example, someone who weighs more than their friend may exercise more and have a low cholesterol diet. Their friend, however, could have an unbalanced diet and unhealthy habits.

The impact of lockdown obesity

Shockingly, an estimated two-thirds of adults in the UK are above a healthy weight, with at least half of those considered obese.

More than 40% of adults have gained weight during the pandemic

Gaining obesity status during lockdown – while entirely normal for a lot of people – created more consequences that normal. Being obese could lead to people being hospitalised pre-COVID, but the danger was greater during the pandemic due to the double risk of complications from COVID-19.

More than 40% of adults have gained weight during the pandemic, with the average addition coming in at half a stone (at least for us!).

With £6.1 billion being spent on obesity-related illnesses per year – which is predicted to go up to £9.7 billion per year by 2050 – it’s time to think about our health.

Risks of obesity include:

• Reduced life expectancy
• Cardiovascular disease
• Type two diabetes
• At least 12 kinds of cancer
• Liver and respiratory diseases

The Dos and Don’ts of battling obesity

How not to lose weight

Who hasn’t tried a crash diet? Let’s face it, most of us have dabbled in a fad diet somewhere along the line, but they’re neither proactive nor healthy.

… when we break our diets, we feel guilt and regret

There are the infamous ones, including juice diets, seven-day ‘detoxes’, and that weird thing with maple syrup and lemon that Beyonce does, all of which claim to help with ‘rapid weight loss’. These diets rely on severe restriction of food and calorific intake. This is unsustainable in the long term, and it can often result in people reverting to the bad habits that made them overweight in the first place.

Then there’s other unhealthy eating habits, like stopping eating our favourite foods, cutting out entire food groups, eating foods we hate (celery we’re looking at you), or starving ourselves to the point of exhaustion. But this isn’t a long-term solution, nor is it healthy.

It’s also a downer on our mental health, because when we break our diets, we feel guilt and regret. And after the past couple of years, we understand only too well how important mental health is.

Slow and steady wins the race

It’s the small habits we change that can make a long-term difference; start small to achieve the big changes.

1. Maybe not the obvious. Look at your drinks choices

Yes fizzy drinks, coffees, and teas are way more delicious than water, but people don’t realise what difference it makes to decrease the number of sugary drinks you’re consuming. Start swapping some of those drinks for some good old H2O.

2. Ease up on the alcohol consumption

We all know it – though we may not like to hear it. Alcohol can have a huge impact on your weight. Reducing your intake of alcohol can help with weight loss and reduce your blood pressure, so it’s a win-win.

3. Regular amounts of small exercise

You don’t have to go mad! It can be tempting to view exercise as an intense activity. But exercise can be a simple walk, gentle jogging, leisurely swimming, cycling, or even yoga. The key is to do something you love, something you’ll keep doing. Even if it’s just walking the dog.

The important part is that you’re moving around and getting the blood pumping around your heart. Committing to two hours of exercise a week is a good start: that’s four days of 30 minutes of exercise.

It can be simple to incorporate that into your life, like walking your dog for longer, cycling to the shop instead of driving, or maybe just doing some yoga/Pilates in front of the TV in the evening. It’s always fun with a friend too, so buddy up. You can join Facebook groups and keep an eye out for local announcements for people looking to exercise with friendly faces.

4. Eat more fruit and veg

I mean… this one is just so obvious right? Many of us struggle to get our five a day. A lot of us don’t even like fruit and veg! Trick yourself by making food you can sneak veggies into, like soups and stews.

Top tip: always carry a piece of fruit around with you. If you’re like me, when you get hungry you’ll reach for it out of convenience.

5. Decrease your processed grains

Processed grains (for that read white) like bread and bagels aren’t terribly nutritious, despite being delicious. They can cause a spike in your blood sugar which can then translate into cravings. Swapping your morning cereal or toast for a protein-filled meal, like eggs, will keep you feeling full for longer. And opt for wholegrain alternatives.

The takeaway (pun intended)

We don’t need to say ditch the takeaways, do we? But just in case – not only are they high fat, most delivery meals or processed foods are heavy on sugar and salt. Get in the kitchen. Delete those apps!

Your weight isn’t just about how you look, but more about your health. It’s important to look after your body, as it does so much for you.

Obesity can lead to physically detrimental problems, and it has a huge impact on our health care. But don’t starve yourself out of guilt and don’t be ashamed. Small steps are the way forward: take it one day at a time and start to change those habits.

If there is one thing you take away from this article, let it be this: you’re not alone. Lockdown has been hard for all of us, and everyone has struggled in some way… so don’t be too hard on yourself.

Not sure where to begin?

Better Health – NHS  is a free weight loss plan app with a 12-week program with lots of support. Launched by the NHS as an attempt to battle the rising problem of obesity.

Support Groups – Obesity UK shows you the available support groups for you to choose which one aligns with your needs.

Healthy eating – British Heart Foundation gives you a guide on healthy eating including how to maintain a balanced diet.

Lili Lowe

Lili works across all the channels; writing articles, taking photographs, creating content, and designing eye-capturing imagery. She’s an animal-lover who cries just seeing a picture of a baby sloth.

The post That lockdown stone: should you really be asking, ‘am I obese?’ appeared first on Silver Magazine.