There is a vast selection of diet and fitness DNA tests that can provide valuable insights into the lifestyle changes you can make to optimize your nutrition and exercise plans. But with so many to choose from, how do you pick the right one for you?
Our team has spent weeks researching and testing the various offerings from the leading DNA test providers to deliver this complete list of the best diet and fitness DNA tests.
To make the list, the tests had to provide detailed reports with actionable insights. Whether you’re looking to improve your diet or fitness, or are wanting to be healthier in general, these genetic reports can help you to understand what lifestyle changes you can make to achieve your goals.
Living DNA is the clear winner in all categories, because of its actionable insights, detailed user-friendly results, and variety of tests.
Short on time? Here are the best diet and fitness DNA tests
- Living DNA – Provides a comprehensive genetic testing service for diet and fitness that includes meal plans and exercise recommendations tailored to your DNA.
- MyToolbox Genomics – Offers DNA-based recommendations for diet, exercise, and supplement routines that consider your genetics, but its user interface isn’t intuitive.
- SelfDecode – Upload data from tests already taken with another company and get detailed reports on your diet, fitness, and mental health.
- EverlyWell – Quick and comprehensive results with details on your food intolerances, vitamin needs and more.
- InsideTracker – Learn all about your optimal diet and exercise regimen based on your habits and DNA results.
Our Best Diet and Fitness DNA Tests Kits Reviewed
1. Living DNA – Best Overall Wellness Report
- Our #1 at-home diet and fitness DNA testing
- Reports on vitamin response, food metabolism, and exercise
- Actionable diet and exercise tips
- Results in six to eight weeks
The Wellbeing DNA test from Living DNA will help you to understand how your genetics responds to your lifestyle choices. Discover how different foods, vitamins, and exercises work with your body, based on your unique genetic makeup.
The results report is easy to understand with interesting insights on how your body responds to key vitamins, metabolizes different foods, and if you’re likely to be sensitive to lactose or gluten.
Your report also includes a number of actionable insights into the lifestyle changes you can make to optimize your diet and fitness. They include nutrition advice, the best type of exercises for your genes, and how to recover after exertion.
Test Diet & Fitness with Living DNA!
2. MyToolbox Genomics – Best for Detailed Reports
- At-home diet and fitness DNA testing
- Individualized diet strategies and meal plans
- Tailor-made exercise strategies
- Results in 4 weeks
The DNA Test from MyToolbox Genomics covers 16 health predisposition traits by analyzing 1,000 genetic markers. The detailed results report provides personalized recommendations to help you overcome your predispositions for optimal dietary health and exercise performance.
Tailor-made nutrition, supplement, exercise, and workout plans are included in your report to help guide you towards a better and healthier lifestyle.
Access the free workout and meal planner, for useful exercise and nutrition tips that are aligned to your unique genetic makeup, helping you to achieve your personal goals.
Test Diet & Fitness with MyToolbox Genomics!
3. SelfDecode – Best for Ongoing Reports on Your Health
- Upload raw data from other DNA tests
- Ongoing and additional reports available
- Easy-to-understand data
- Results instant or within 6 to 8 weeks
At SelfDecode, you can upload your raw DNA data from AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, and Courtagen, and receive your chosen reports instantly, saving you the usual waiting time of 6-8 weeks. When I tried it, I was impressed by how quick and easy the process was.
With a subscription on either an annual or lifetime basis, you can access ongoing reports. The annual subscription comes with five reports included for free, and additional reports are offered at a discounted price. If you don’t have existing DNA, you can purchase a kit at an additional cost. I found this subscription model to be very flexible and accommodating to my needs.
SelfDecode offers a wide variety of reports that can help you understand your body and optimize your fitness and diet. This includes assessments of your risk for inflammatory conditions, nutritional profile, cancer risk, fitness levels, cardiovascular health, and more. It also offers mental health-related tests, including assessments of stress, mood, anxiety, and cognitive function.
The reports generated by SelfDecode are detailed and come with actionable recommendations tailored to your specific genes. They also inform you about the biomarkers that were tested and the genetic variant you carry, which can be helpful to share with your doctor. I found this level of detail and personalized information to be very helpful in understanding my genetic makeup and what it means for my health.
4. Everlywell – Best for Quick Results
- At-home blood testing
- Variety of affordable lifestyle tests
- Test for food sensitivities
- Results in 5-7 days
Everlywell doesn’t provide DNA testing, instead offering a number of affordable lifestyle tests that check the levels of certain biomarkers in your blood sample. For example, the Metabolism test measures your levels of a number of hormones, which influence weight and energy.
By measuring biomarkers instead of analyzing DNA, it’s easy to monitor your progress with repeat testing. Everlywell has a membership program that greatly reduces the price of its lifestyle tests, for a monthly fee.
Your physician-reviewed results are delivered to your secure online account in 5 to 7 days, with a personalized report for each marker tested and what that means for you. Use the information in your report to help guide any lifestyle changes to improve your overall health and wellness.
Test Nutrition with Everlywell!
5. InsideTracker – Best for Reaching Your Optimal Nutrition Goals
- Lab-based diet and fitness blood or DNA tests
- DNA and blood insights add-on
- Personalized nutrition and supplement reports
- Custom online dashboard
Choose from InsideTracker’s variety of lifestyle DNA tests, best suited to your goals. There is a choice of blood and DNA tests, but they currently only have a few at-home diet and fitness tests. Otherwise, your samples are collected at 2,000+ lab locations across the US or via a mobile phlebotomist.
Get even more out of your test by adding on DNA or blood insights, to determine all you need to know about enhancing performance, building muscle, raising metabolism, and more. Your personalized report includes a custom nutrition plan and supplement recommendations, so your body can get what it needs.
Test Diet & Fitness with InsideTracker!
At-home Diet and Fitness DNA Test Comparison Table
| Personalized Diet Plan | Personalized Fitness Plan | Food Sensitivity | Time to Results | Starting Price | |
| LivingDNA | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 6 to 8 weeks | $129.00 |
| MyToolbox Genomics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 4 weeks | $199.00 |
| SelfDecode | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 6 to 8 weeks | $199.00 |
| Everlywell | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | 5 to 7 days | $159.00 |
| InsideTracker | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | 5 to 7 days for blood test or 4 to 6 weeks for DNA | $49.00 |
How We Tested At-home Diet and Fitness Testing Kits
To determine the best DNA tests for diet and fitness, we looked at several important criteria:
- Reliability – We researched the genetic markers used to form conclusions and recommendations. Consulting reliable resources ensured peer-reviewed research backed up their insights.
- Clarity – We established that each report provided extensive conclusions presented in accessible language. The tests that explained the conclusions ranked higher than those that provided only basic reports.
- Actionability – Do you get practical, tangible recommendations on how to optimize your diet and fitness regimes? Features like customized meal and exercise helped tests rank higher on our list.
- Relevance – Does the test analyze a wide range of dietary and fitness factors?
- Support – It’s much easier to get your head around the results of a DNA test when support from experts is available, whether that be through consultations or a useful knowledge base.
How Do You Read and Interpret the Results of Your At-Home Diet and Fitness DNA Test?
Once the analysis is complete, your reports are made available, which include a number of insights based on your genetics along with details on how these conclusions were reached.
You won’t have to interpret your own data – experts use their wealth of knowledge to provide useful observations on how your genetic traits influence your body’s response to diet and exercise.
The best diet and fitness reports will provide actionable advice based on your unique genetic makeup, which can include which foods to add or eliminate from your diet, as well as other lifestyle changes, to improve your health and wellbeing.
How Does At-Home Diet and Fitness DNA Testing Work?
Collecting your DNA sample at home is simple, with most providers – including Living DNA – requiring a small amount of saliva or cheek swab.
The best diet and fitness DNA tests include pre-paid packaging so you can drop your samples directly in the mail. Once the lab receives your sample, your DNA is carefully analyzed to reveal your diet and fitness traits.
What Will Diet and Fitness DNA Test Results Tell Me?
Your results are usually processed within six weeks of the lab receiving your sample. As Everlywell and InsideTrackertest for biomarkers in blood, results are issued in just five to seven days. Your report is delivered to a secure online account and you’ll be emailed when they become available.
Depending on which test you choose, your results may show how your body processes certain nutrients and how it responds to different types of exercise. In most cases, along with these conclusions, are tailor-made insights on how you can optimize your diet and exercise regimes, based on your DNA.
How Accurate are Diet and Fitness DNA Tests?
Although most diet and fitness DNA tests are generally reliable, there are various factors that can impact their accuracy. The quality of the DNA or blood sample you provide is crucial. If you fail to adequately swab or follow the instructions for finger-prick blood collection, your sample might lack sufficient genetic material or become contaminated.
Moreover, the accuracy of the results is influenced by scientific research. Conclusions are drawn from reputable studies, but the strength of correlations can vary, and some genetic markers are better understood than others. Consequently, relying solely on a single genetic marker is insufficient to fully understand a specific trait. The most comprehensive DNA tests analyze multiple markers to provide a more complete perspective.
Lastly, it’s important to recognize that your genes do not determine your destiny. While a genetic test may indicate a predisposition or trait, your lifestyle choices and environment often have a more significant impact, especially regarding fitness and dietary factors.
How Much Does a Diet and Fitness DNA Test Cost?
Diet and fitness DNA tests vary by provider, but most range between $50 and $200, depending on how extensive your results report is. When choosing a DNA test, the price shouldn’t be the deciding factor. Take a look at what you get from the test to determine the best value.
Some tests only analyze the genetic influence on nutrition and diet, which may be sufficient if you’re interested in eating better. Others will also look at markers that may determine how your body will respond to exercise. This information can prove useful if you’re interested in maximizing performance.
The most comprehensive tests will offer additional insights, such as food sensitivities and recovery reports, as well as personalized meal and exercise plans to kickstart your new healthy regime.
FAQs
What is a diet and fitness DNA Test?
Diet and fitness tests assess your DNA, screening for genetic markers that have been linked to nutrition and fitness traits.
This genetic information is used to draw conclusions on the best foods and exercises for your unique makeup, which may help you reach your health and wellness goals faster.
What sample is needed for diet and fitness DNA testing?
Most at-home diet and fitness DNA tests use a saliva sample, obtained from a simple cheek swab. Ins some cases, such as when analyzing biomarkers instead of genes – testing is performed using a finger-prick blood sample.
Does genetics affect weight?
Yes, to a certain degree. Research has shown a genetic link to a number of traits, such as metabolism and the tendency to store fat, but it isn’t the whole story. The strength of genetic influence on weight varies between individuals; for some people, genes account for as little as 25% of the predisposition to be overweight, while for others it could be as high as 80%.
Plus, your genes can also influence which weight-loss strategies – including types of diet and workout – may work best for you.
Environmental and lifestyle choices also play a key role in weight, so a diet and fitness DNA test can provide you useful tips on what changes you can make to be healthier in general.
Can DNA testing tell me my optimal diet and workout regimes?
Most DNA tests will provide actionable insights in your results reports, for example, what food you should include in your diet, any vitamin deficiencies, and what exercises are best suited to your genetic makeup. This information provides a great start on your journey to a healthier lifestyle
Some companies, such as DNAfit and Vitagene, offer customized diet and fitness plans, which have been guided by your generic predispositions. This makes it super easy to start eating better and maximizing your performance in the gym.
What can’t DNA tell us about diet and fitness?
By analyzing known genetic markers, DNA tests can tell us if we are predisposed to certain traits related to nutrition and fitness, such as vitamin metabolism, macronutrient breakdown, and strength and recovery response.
However, correlation does not equal causation. Just because a certain gene has been linked to a particular trait, it’s not a guarantee you’ll exhibit that trait if you have the gene, especially since lifestyle plays such a big role.
What a DNA test can do, is to help you to make better choices by giving you an indication about what foods and exercises are likely to work better with your body.
They are no substitute for advice from a trained professional and no major lifestyle changes shouldn’t be made without first consulting with your doctor.
