You are viewing Laila Zemrani's 23andMe Wellness report.

Genetic Weight

Your genes influence not just your weight, but also the impact of different healthy habits.

Laila, your genes predispose you to weigh about average.

This doesn't mean your weight will definitely be average. While your genes don't appear to be strongly influencing your weight in either direction, your lifestyle and environment have just as much impact, if not more.

How did we calculate your result?

We determined your result by looking at DNA variants associated with weight based on our research. Some variants have a stronger effect on weight than others, which our analysis took into account. Because of this, your proportion of higher to lower weight variants may not exactly align with your overall predisposition. Keep in mind that other variants may also affect your weight.

Total
762

You have:

Variants associated with lower weight: 402

Variants associated with higher weight: 360

What is average?

151 lbs

The average weight for someone your age and birth sex who is 5'4" tall is 151 pounds, based on 23andMe participants of European descent. The ancestry we used for your result is based on the information you provided in your settings. European is used as the default for people of mixed ancestry and for those of ancestries for which we do not yet have enough research participants.

Your reported weight is lower than your genetic result would predict.

In your health profile you told us you weigh 129 pounds. Your lifestyle and environment may be working to offset a tendency to weigh slightly more than you do. For reference, a recommended healthy weight range for someone your height is 108-145 pounds, based on CDC guidelines.

Healthy Habits for Your Genetics

We looked at 23andMe research participants with a genetic weight predisposition like yours and found certain lifestyle factors that were associated with the biggest weight differences.

These habits made the biggest difference in people with your genetics:

  1. 1

    Avoiding fast food

    Associated with weighing up to 14.4% less

    People at a healthy weight ate fast food less than once per week, on average.

    People who never ate fast food weighed up to 14.4% less than those who ate fast food almost every day or more.

  2. 2

    Limiting red meat

    Associated with weighing up to 13.8% less

    People at a healthy weight ate red meat less than 2 times per week, on average.

    People who never ate red meat weighed up to 13.8% less than those who ate red meat every day.

  3. 3

    Exercising

    Associated with weighing up to 12.8% less

    People at a healthy weight exercised 2-3 times per week, on average.

    People who exercised daily weighed up to 12.8% less than those who exercised less than once a week.

  4. 4

    Sleeping a healthy amount

    Associated with weighing up to 11.3% less

    People at a healthy weight slept 7-8 hours per night, on average.

    People who slept 8-9 hours per night weighed up to 11.3% less than those who slept less than 5 hours or more than 11 hours per night.

  5. 5

    Eating vegetables

    Associated with weighing up to 10.8% less

    People at a healthy weight ate 2-4 servings of vegetables per day, on average.

    People who ate more than 7 servings of vegetables per day weighed up to 10.8% less than those who never ate vegetables.

Important things to keep in mind

These associations were observed in 23andMe research participants of European descent, whose demographics and lifestyles may not be representative of the general population. Our analysis accounted for the effects of age and sex, but other genetic and non-genetic factors may also influence how these habits affect your weight and health.

Our analysis did not include all possible lifestyle factors, and those that were included may not be independent of one another. For example, people who exercise frequently might also tend to have healthy diets. This means that the effect of one habit on your weight may depend in part on your other habits. And don't forget that a healthy lifestyle is important for your overall health, regardless of your weight.

Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any major lifestyle changes. This test does not diagnose any health conditions or provide medical advice.

Healthy Habits for Your Genetics

We looked at 23andMe research participants with a genetic weight predisposition like yours and found the habits that were associated with the biggest weight differences. In general, we saw the biggest weight differences between people who practiced these habits most often compared to those who rarely or never did. This list is ranked from biggest to smallest effect based on your genetics.

People at a healthy weight...

We saw weight differences up to...

1.
Avoided fast food
Ate less than once per week
We saw weight differences up to
14.4%
2.
Limited red meat
Ate less than 2 times per week
We saw weight differences up to
13.8%
3.
Exercised
2-3 times per week
We saw weight differences up to
12.8%
4.
Slept a healthy amount
7-8 hours per night
We saw weight differences up to
11.3%
5.
Ate vegetables
2-4 times per day
We saw weight differences up to
10.8%
6.
Ate leafy greens
4-5 times per week
We saw weight differences up to
9.5%
7.
Ate fish
1-2 times per week
We saw weight differences up to
7.9%
8.
Ate fruit
1-3 times per day
We saw weight differences up to
7.0%
9.
Ate yogurt
2-3 times per week
We saw weight differences up to
4.6%
10.
Managed stress
Had low levels on average
We saw weight differences up to
3.3%

These findings are based on self-reported height, weight, and lifestyle data from over 45,000 23andMe research participants of European descent. Our analysis used body mass index (BMI), which provides a standardized metric for comparing weights across people of different heights. Differences in reported weight may be influenced by other lifestyle, demographic, and genetic factors not included in our analysis.

Read Scientific Details

How we determine your result

1. Collect some details from you.

You tell us your age, sex, height, weight, and ethnicity, so we can customize your result.

You
Genetics
Ethnicity
Sex
Age

2. Calculate your score.

We use data from 23andMe research participants to create a genetic weight score based on your genotype at over 300 different genetic markers associated with weight. Based on your score, we then make a prediction about your BMI that also factors in your age, sex, and ethnicity.

About the Genetic Weight model

The markers used in the Genetic Weight model were determined from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted in over 400,000 23andMe research participants of European descent.

The model was created using people of European descent and was trained and validated in ancestry-specific populations. People of mixed ancestry or of an ancestry for which we do not yet have enough research participants receive the European trained model as a default.


The model used to determine your result was trained and validated in research participants of European descent.

Number of female research participants used to train: 210,711
Number of genetic markers: 381
R² of predicted BMI vs. self-reported BMI in an independent sample: 0.07
Significance (p-value): <0.001

3. Summarize your weight predisposition.

To determine whether you have a genetic tendency to weigh more or less than average, we compare your BMI prediction to other 23andMe participants of your age, sex, and ethnicity. Because average weights change with age, how your predisposition compares to average may also change slightly over time. See our white paper about the science behind this report.

Predisposed to weigh about average

You = About Average
-30% 0% 30%

Genetics and Lifestyle Associations at 23andMe

Your genetics can actually influence how much lifestyle impacts your weight, which is called "gene-environment interaction."

We looked for these kinds of interactions by comparing the BMIs of 23andMe research participants with different genetics and different daily habits. In general, we saw the biggest weight differences between people who practiced these habits most often compared to those who rarely or never did. Each lifestyle choice seemed to have a slightly different effect on weight, depending on genetics. This table shows the average effect associated with your genetic weight predisposition as well as the range of effect seen in people with other predispositions.

Uncovering the connections between genetics, lifestyle, and weight is an active area of science, and our research efforts are ongoing.

Lifestyle factor
Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition
Avoiding fast food

Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition:

0%
Range 11.3% - 17.8%
Your genetics 14.4%
20.0%
Limiting red meat

Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition:

0%
Range 12.1% - 15.5%
Your genetics 13.8%
20.0%
Exercising

Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition:

0%
Range 8.9% - 16.4%
Your genetics 12.8%
20.0%
Sleeping a healthy amount

Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition:

0%
Range 11.1% - 11.4%
Your genetics 11.3%
20.0%
Eating vegetables

Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition:

0%
Range 9.4% - 12.1%
Your genetics 10.8%
20.0%
Eating leafy greens

Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition:

0%
Range 6.9% - 11.9%
Your genetics 9.5%
20.0%
Eating fish

Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition:

0%
Range 3.6% - 11.9%
Your genetics 7.9%
20.0%
Eating fruit

Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition:

0%
Range 5.5% - 9.1%
Your genetics 7.0%
20.0%
Eating yogurt

Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition:

0%
Range 3.3% - 5.9%
Your genetics 4.6%
20.0%
Managing stress

Range of observed results (% weight difference), from lowest to highest genetic weight predisposition:

0%
Range 2.1% - 4.9%
Your genetics 3.3%
20.0%

These findings are based on self-reported height, weight, and lifestyle data from over 45,000 23andMe research participants of European descent. All lifestyle factors included in the analysis were significantly correlated with BMI (correlation coefficients ranged from 0.2-0.3; all p-values < 0.0001).

Our analysis accounted for the effects of sex and age, but differences in reported weight may also be influenced by other lifestyle, demographic, and genetic factors not included.

See our white paper for details about the science behind this report.

References

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