Genetic Testing
Genetic Testing
Genetic Testing — helps in identifying your genetic makeup, allowing us to design a diet and exercise program customized to your body’s specific needs.
Take the guesswork out of weight loss programs! Studies have found that depending on your genetic type, you’ll be more successful at losing weight by following the specific type of diet and exercise that is most appropriate for your metabolism and risk factors. Through our genetic testing, we can identify your genetic makeup, or genotype, and then design a diet and exercise program customized to your body’s specific needs.
Standford University Clinical Study
In a 2007 study, 311 women were randomly assigned to follow either the Atkins, Zone, LEARN, or Ornish Diets. At the end of a year, the 77 women assigned to the Atkins group had lost an average of 10.4 pounds. Those assigned to LEARN lost 5.7 pounds, Ornish followers lost 4.8 pounds and women on the Zone lost 3.5 pounds, on average.In all four groups, some women lost up to 30 pounds and kept it off for more than a year, but the biggest differences in weight loss were actually within diet groups.
What accounted for these differences?
Researchers analyzed whether women assigned certain diets appropriate for their genotypes lost more weight than those who followed diets not matched to their genotypes.. They concluded that women assigned to a genotype-appropriate diet lost 5.3% of their body weight compared with just 2.3% among those not matched to genotype. Within the Atkins group, for example, those appropriately assigned by genotype lost approximately 12 pounds compared with 2 pounds for those who lacked the low-carbohydrate genotype. All other groups had similar reductions in weight among those appropriately assigned by genotype.
What can you learn from our DNA test?
- If your body is resistant to losing weight.
- How well your body is able to process carbohydrates in your diet.
- How much body fat you can lose through cardio exercise.
- How effectively your body is able to absorb folate, a B-complex vitamin
- that is necessary for cell growth and metabolism and is especially important for pregnant women.
- How sensitive your body is to the amount of fat in your diet.
- How your body responds to strength training.
- How sensitive your body is to the amount of protein in your diet.
At Equilibrium, we are committed to giving you data about what’s going on inside your body, so you can make informed decisions about which weight-loss path is right for you. Our programs, including our genetic testing, are science-based and are customized specifically for you.
How does DNA testing work?
We use a noninvasive swab to collect cells from the mouth. The swab is easy to use and only takes about a minute to collect enough DNA for analysis. Once collected, the swab is mailed directly to our lab for analysis.
What genes are analyzed with the genetic test?
Our lab analyzes approximately 50 unique genes that have been shown through external research to be related to various ways the human body processes food, nutrients, and physical exercise.
When will I get my results?
Typical turnaround time for the entire process (swab kit shipping, DNA extraction and analysis, quality inspection, report generation) is approximately 10-25 business days. We will email you as soon as your report is ready.
*ASK about the Equilibrium’s DETOX DIET while you are waiting for your test results!
Will you test for any serious inherited diseases?
No. Genetic Direction focuses solely on those genes that are related to the body’s ability to process food, nutrients and physical exercise. Any DNA test performed to detect predictors for disease should be interpreted by a physician or a certified genetic counselor.
What information will be included in my report?
Your report will contain nutrition and exercise recommendations specific to your genetic test results (i.e., your DNA). The nutrition information will discuss in layman’s terms how much protein, carbohydrates, and fat you should consume daily, as well as which micronutrients you may be at risk for being deficient in, and which foods are good sources of those micronutrients. You will learn how your body responds to fat, protein, and carbohydrate intake in relation to how you’ll use them for energy, and thus, how best to eat in order to lose body fat. Your report will also indicate what your likeliness is of using fat for energy during different types of exercise. It will give you specific information about exercises that are best aligned with your genetic test results: which types of exercise, at what intensity, for how long, and how often.
In addition to the report, you will also have access to genotype-specific content within our secure web portal. Hundreds of videos, recipes, and articles are prioritized for you based on your genotype and available to you at any time.
Will you test for any serious inherited diseases?
No. Genetic Direction focuses solely on those genes that are related to the body’s ability to process food, nutrients and physical exercise. Any DNA test performed to detect predictors for disease should be interpreted by a physician or a certified genetic counselor.
What will happen to my sample after it has been analyzed?
Unless you give us authorization to store your sample in our lab’s bio-banking facility, your DNA sample will be destroyed by the lab within 45 days of analyzing the DNA.
How is my personal information protected?
To prevent unauthorized access to your information, our systems are run on HIPAA-compliant architecture, employing secure servers, firewalls and encrypted back-ups.
Who can view and use my account information?
You control access to your account information and test results. As long as you do not share your account password and username, no other individual will have access to your account or your results, except the Equilibrium staff.