Interesting article on genetics-based dieting

estherdragonbat

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/let-s-all-stop-holding-out-for-science-to-find-the-perfect-diet

Doesn't sound like it's going to be the be-all, end-all and I can't say I'm shocked.

NovusDies

Since weight loss is highly mental I would rather eat the way my mind wants me to eat and tell my body to just deal with it.

I think learning yourself is probably one of the most important aspects of sustained weight loss. I am not sure others can teach us though. I think it is more likely just a trial and error process that we have to push through.

kshama2001

@cmriverside I believe you've mentioned working in a lab for a company that offered diets as a result of genetic testing - would love to hear your thoughts.

Nony_Mouse

kshama2001 wrote: »

@cmriverside I believe you've mentioned working in a lab for a company that offered diets as a result of genetic testing - would love to hear your thoughts.

Nope, cmriverside worked in a DNA lab that was involved in giving evidence against it.

cmriverside

Ugh.

First paragraph:

The science of how we each individually process and respond to food is just getting going

later on:

“we can’t be specific about the product, because it’s going to be driven by the science” and that science isn’t done yet—

and:

but the evidence that it will be better than following the direction of a nutritionist or spending some time tracking how you feel in a food diary—tools that are available right now—isn’t yet there.

So, after just skimming the article, and since the research isn't done yet - that's my take.





I did work in a DNA lab. We did sell those DNA Diet tests, we had to testify before Congress and the tests were ordered to be stopped (or at least the claims about DNA and diet being made by the end-point seller.) That was a few years ago.

I think some day there will be research that will point to some nutritionally significant personal tendencies. I think this idea of Zoe's is good, heck I thought it was good in 2000...it just has yet to be documented as something worth paying for. These tests back in the early 2000's were costing several hundred dollars.

cmriverside

Zoe seems to be really interested in gut biome, too, which is trendy. That part is fairly new science and I don't see how that is DNA related, but what do I know?

AnnPT77

Couple of thoughts:

(1) We don't need our ideal diet, we only need one that's "good enough".

(2) I feel like a lot of us, if we can cognitively clear the decks of a bunch of non-scientific (or not-quite-there semi-scientific) nonsense, can find a "good enough" diet by intentional experimentation, monitoring, and adjustment.

Why am I not suprised that the Zoe folks have said something that causes the writer to say "One cool take-home message is that counting calories might not be all that helpful for maintaining health."?

I'm not gonna wait for those guys . . . and as someone who doesn't like other people's (metaphorical) "religions", I'd probably resist this kind of rules-y approach anyway. The placebo effect alone will make it work for a fair fraction of people, I'd predict . . . and anything that works, while permitting/enabling decent overall nutrition, is fine by me.

yirara

Knowing what kind of food works for me and what doesn’t I’d love to test this. But
1. it’s super expensive
2. many if these genetic testing companies reserve the right to use your data for anything basically, including sharing or selling it to third parties.