Obesity & Weight Management
Struggling to lose weight despite dieting? Genes like FTO, IRS1 and MC4R shape your appetite, fat storage and carb sensitivity — a DNA + blood test shows which ones are working against you.
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Signs and health impacts to watch for
Obesity itself is usually identified through BMI or waist circumference rather than "symptoms," but related signs and health impacts can include:
- BMI of 25 or above (overweight) or 30 or above (obese), by Asian-specific BMI cut-offs
- Increased waist circumference — a stronger indicator of metabolic risk than BMI alone
- Breathlessness during routine activity or mild exertion
- Joint pain, particularly in the knees and lower back
- Fatigue and low energy throughout the day
- Symptoms of sleep apnea, such as loud snoring or daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty losing weight despite calorie-controlled diets
BMI and waist circumference are screening tools, not diagnoses. A full assessment of metabolic health should include blood biomarkers and, where relevant, genetic risk factors.
What causes obesity and weight gain?
Genetic factors
Genetics influences weight through multiple pathways — appetite signalling, how the body partitions calories between fat storage and energy use, and how it responds to carbohydrates specifically.
- FTO — one of the most well-studied obesity-associated genes globally, linked to appetite regulation and fat mass 1
- IRS1 — affects how the body responds to carbohydrates and is linked to carbohydrate-driven weight gain 2
- MC4R and TRHR — both involved in appetite control and body mass index regulation 3
- Variants affecting fat metabolism and storage efficiency, influencing how readily extra calories are stored as fat versus used for energy 4
1–4 Gene–weight associations summarized from peer-reviewed obesity genetics research (GWAS and candidate-gene studies on FTO, IRS1, MC4R and TRHR). Full citations available on request.
Lifestyle & environmental factors
These factors interact with genetic predisposition to determine actual weight outcomes over time.
- Consistent calorie surplus, often driven by portion sizes and energy-dense processed foods
- Low physical activity levels and sedentary work
- Poor sleep quality and quantity, which disrupts hunger-regulating hormones
- Chronic stress, which can drive emotional eating and elevate cortisol
- Underlying hormonal imbalances (e.g. thyroid conditions, PCOS) that make weight management more difficult
- Highly processed, low-fibre diets that don't support satiety
How unlock.fit's DNA + blood approach helps
A plan calibrated to your biology, not a generic calorie target.
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A generic 1,500-calorie diet plan doesn't account for whether your genes predispose you to strong carbohydrate cravings (IRS1), slower appetite regulation (FTO), or a higher genetic baseline BMI (MC4R, TRHR). Our DNA test reads these markers alongside a full blood panel to understand both inherited tendencies and current metabolic status.
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From there, our dietitians build a plan calibrated to you — for example, prioritising protein-forward meals and smaller portions of high-glycaemic staples if you show high genetic carbohydrate sensitivity, rather than applying the same target to everyone regardless of biology.
Frequently asked questions
Both. Genetics influences appetite regulation, fat storage and how the body responds to different foods, but lifestyle factors like diet, activity and sleep largely determine whether that genetic predisposition leads to actual weight gain.
Generic calorie-restricted diets don't account for individual differences in carbohydrate sensitivity, appetite regulation genes, or metabolic rate. A plan calibrated to your genetic and metabolic profile is often more effective than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Asian-specific BMI guidelines generally classify 23–24.9 as overweight and 25 and above as obese — lower thresholds than the global standard, reflecting higher health risk at lower BMI in South Asian populations.
DNA testing can reveal genetic tendencies around appetite, fat storage and carbohydrate sensitivity, which helps build a more personalised and realistic nutrition plan rather than guessing which diet approach will work for a given individual.
Your weight isn't just about willpower
Get your personalised DNA report and see which genetic and lifestyle factors are shaping your results.