Genetic Obesity Testing is Revolutionizing Weight Loss Therapy

Genetic testing for obesity phenotypes is evolving from research to reality, revolutionizing personalized weight loss therapy for patients and practitioners. A genetic test for the "hungry gut" obesity phenotype may effectively predict patient response to semaglutide for weight loss. In addition to this groundbreaking research, companies are now making genetic obesity testing available to patients for individually tailored weight loss therapy. 

In a recent study presented at Digestive Disease Week 2024, researchers at Mayo Clinic used a machine learning genetic risk score to classify 84 adult patients as "hungry gut" positive (n=51) or negative (n=33), then tracked their total body weight loss over 12 months of semaglutide treatment. While weight loss was similar at 3 and 6 months, significant differences emerged by 9 months and at 12 months, the disparity increased to a total of 19.5% vs. 10.0% total body weight loss (P = .01), respectively.

Genetic tests like this will help eliminate much of the guesswork for practitioners, enabling clinicians to more quickly identify optimal treatments for individual patients. "We can now tell with confidence who is going to respond to semaglutide," said Andres Acosta, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic. "For nonresponders, we can think about other interventions or medications that we have available."

The emergence of a genetic obesity test is now becoming a reality for patients and practitioners with the recent partnership between Phenomix Sciences, a precision medicine biotech company and creators of the MyPhenome genetic obesity test, and Hello Alpha, a telehealth platform. More than 1 in 4 U.S. women (27.5%) are overweight or obese, and most struggle throughout their lives with complex, individual hormonal changes and societal pressures that affect their weight. "Women face challenges of weight gain particularly with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy and menopause," says Mary T. Jacobson, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Hello Alpha.

This collaboration will give Hello Alpha patients access to the MyPhenome genetic obesity test, a saliva test that identifies a patient’s obesity phenotype, including "hungry gut" (accelerated gastric emptying), "hungry brain" (consuming too many calories without feeling full) and "emotional hunger" (eating in response to emotional triggers). "Obesity is a complex disease that, much like women’s health, needs to be treated holistically," said Gloria Lau, CEO of Hello Alpha. "By combining this personalized approach to weight loss with the convenience of telehealth, we’re poised to address a key issue in women’s health across the U.S."

In addition, a recent U.S. weight loss survey of 475 current or former weight loss patients explored the evolving preferences for obesity treatment and how patients receive this information. The survey revealed that 66% of patients surveyed prefer a clinical care provider’s guidance to manage their weight loss, 62% are interested in learning more about their condition through genetic testing and want an obesity intervention tailored to their genetic findings and 53% are willing to pay for a genetic obesity test.

"We’ve seen that there is no ‘one-size-fits all’ solution, even with new and effective medications, and the average patient with obesity is now expressing a growing curiosity about the root causes of obesity," said Mark Bagnall, CEO of Phenomix Sciences.

This personalized approach to obesity treatment highlights the importance of utilizing genetic testing in obesity management and precision medicine’s potential to change patient lives and society as a whole.