Here’s How to Know the Right Medications for Your Weight Loss

SadaNews - Researchers have developed a genetic test that helps predict people's responses to weight loss medications. The results represent a promising step toward more personalized and effective treatments for individuals suffering from obesity.

The test estimates the calories needed for satiety, which is the amount of food a person needs to feel full, and connects this biological trait to the success of the treatment.

The study was conducted by researchers from Mayo Clinic in the United States, with their findings published in the journal Cell Metabolism on August 5th, and reported by the website EurekAlert.

Dr. Andres Acosta, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic and co-author of the study, said: "Patients deserve treatments that consider their biological characteristics, not just their body size. This test helps us prescribe the right medication to the right person from the start."

Beyond Body Size

Obesity results from a mix of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors that vary from person to person, and this complexity helps explain why people respond differently to weight loss interventions.

To uncover these processes, Dr. Acosta focused on satiety, which is the physiological signal that informs the body that it has eaten enough food.

Some individuals with obesity tend to eat very large meals, while others may consume moderate portions but snack frequently throughout the day.

In this study, the researchers examined satiety in nearly 800 adults with obesity by inviting them to enjoy an all-you-can-eat meal of lasagna, desserts, and milk until they felt full.

Genes Speak

The results revealed significant variability, as some participants stopped after consuming 140 calories, while others consumed over 2000 calories. On average, men consumed more calories than women.

The team explored possible explanations for this variability, with several factors, including body weight, height, body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio, age, and hormones associated with appetite, such as ghrelin and leptin, playing a small role.

However, none of these explained the vast differences in calorie intake, prompting the researchers to turn to genetics.

Using machine learning, the researchers combined variations in 10 genes known to affect eating behavior into a single measure called the Calories to Satiation Genetic Risk Score.

This score, calculated from a blood or saliva sample, provides a personalized estimate of an individual's expected satiety threshold.

Gene Interaction with Medications

Mayo Clinic researchers calculated the Calories to Satiation Genetic Risk Score in clinical trials for two FDA-approved medications: a first-generation weight loss drug called phentermine-topiramate and a newer GLP-1 agonist, liraglutide (Saxenda).

They found that individuals with a high satiety threshold lost more weight with phentermine-topiramate. This medication may help control portion sizes and reduce overeating during larger meals.

Conversely, individuals with a low satiety threshold responded better to liraglutide, which may reduce feelings of hunger overall and the frequency of eating.

Dr. Acosta stated: "Using a single genetic test, we can predict who is most likely to succeed with two different medications. This means more cost-effective care and better outcomes for patients."

Source: EurekAlert