An at-home DNA test can give you a lot of valuable information about your genetic tendencies in certain areas, including how your body could be “wired” to store fat, metabolize carbohydrates, respond to various diets, and regain weight after dieting.
Trying to lose weight in a way that’s inconsistent with these inborn traits can be an uphill battle. But if you know about these traits, you may be able to modify your weight-loss strategies to work with your body instead of against it, and therefore achieve more satisfactory results.
But how are you supposed to know which of the ever-growing number of DNA tests for weight loss is the right one for you? Which one will give you accurate information and actionable insights to help you create a healthier version of yourself?
We’ve got you covered. We’ve tested all of the main DNA kits for weight loss so we can help you make the right choice.
And, if you want to just dive right into your weight loss journey, get started quickly with Living DNA, the best DNA test for weight loss. Take a look at our recommendations for the best DNA tests for weight loss and find out which one could work for you.
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Short on time? Here are our top picks for DNA tests for weight loss:
- Living DNA – Concisely summarizes how your DNA could influence your weight loss ability, fitness tendencies, and other wellness traits.
- Everlywell – Reports on hormone levels affecting weight loss, with subscription service for regular testing.
- My Toolbox Genomics – A choice of various weight loss tests, including full list of foods and intolerance reports.
- Click here to see 6 other top DNA tests for weight loss
- Check out our comparison table
- FAQ
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What We Look For in the Best Weight Loss DNA Tests
Here’s a look at the criteria we think are most important when selecting a DNA test for weight loss. Some may be more important to you personally than others, but you can keep them in mind while you decide.
- Trustworthiness: Does the company have a good reputation? Have people seen good results using the company’s DNA findings?
- Relevance: Does the company offer one or more tests that address weight loss directly?
- Report clarity: Do your DNA results make sense? Are they easy to understand?
- Actionability: Does your report offer clear, actionable diet and fitness strategies, plans, and recipes tailored to your unique genetic predispositions?
1. Living DNA – In-Depth Nutrition Advice & Exercise Tips
- Personalized diet recommendations and exercise routine
- Assesses food intolerances and vitamin needs
- Quick and easy mouth swab
- Results in 6-8 weeks
Living DNA’s “Wellbeing” report lets you view your results in the context of a variety of focuses, such as weight loss, energy, and healthy eating. And the findings are translated into what the implications are for your lifestyle.
Living DNA’s Wellbeing kit is pretty comprehensive and explores your genetic makeup for both nutrition and fitness.
When we took the test, it showed our colleague how their body responds to specific vitamins and whether they need more or less of particular ones. He also learned how his body metabolizes different foods, including carbs and sugars, and if he had any likely sensitivities, such as gluten or lactose.
We were really impressed with the quality of the report. Our colleague received actionable nutrition advice to help give his body exactly what it needs. This included things like adding certain fish to his diet, avoiding high-fat foods, and learning which supplements would be beneficial to his diet.
The fitness and exercise element tests your DNA to establish which exercises are the best choice to support your fitness goals. In our report, we could see whether to engage in high or low resistance training and what endurance level was best, which is great for supporting weight loss goals.
Our report also looked at oxygen flow, muscle fiber makeup, recovery time, trainability, blood vessel response, and tendon durability.
It’s a very down-to-earth, accessible way of presenting the information; great for people who want to be able to understand their results quickly and easily – and isn’t that all of us?
2. Everlywell – Assess Metabolism & Thyroid
- Tests available to analyze metabolism and thyroid function
- Screens for hormones that influence weight loss with advice on next steps
- Subscription options for regular weight loss testing
- Results only take 3 days
Everlywell takes a slightly different approach to weight loss than the other kits on this list. It has a few different options available, and we like the thyroid and metabolism tests best.
With the metabolism test, we were able to learn about the three key hormones: cortisol, free testosterone, and TSH. Our report showed whether our researcher’s levels were high, medium, or low, with advice on how these hormones might affect weight loss.
You can also buy a dedicated thyroid kit, which we’ve also tested. This screens for T3, T4, and TSH. Our colleague not only learned about his overall thyroid function, but also how the thyroid gland can affect his weight loss goals. For example, he had a particularly low level of T3 and his report explained how this can lead to weight gain.
No matter which test you choose, sample collection is really easy. Our kit came with detailed instructions and all the equipment you need to take the finger-prick blood sample. It’s painless.
We were impressed with the results times, too. It only took 3 days to get our reports, which are available from your online dashboard.
Our colleague’s report was nicely color-coded so he could identify any concerns with hormone levels, and also see how his levels compared to normal averages.
We also liked that you can pay with HSA/FSA cards to save some dollars. And there’s a subscription option which is a great feature for regular weight loss testing.
Assess Your Hormones with Everlywell!
3. My Toolbox Genomics – Huge Choice of Weight Loss Tests
- 7-day personalized meal plan based on your goals
- Screens your metabolism of all key vitamins and minerals
- Assesses your snacking risk, caffeine metabolism, and sensitivity to gluten
- Results in 3-4 weeks
My Toolbox Genomics offers a comprehensive DNA test that analyzes your diet and nutrition, with extra fitness insights included, too.
Its nutritional test screens over 50 different genes to tell you everything you need to know about your diet. Our report showed which foods our test taker should be adding to or removing from their diet, not only to lose weight but also to increase overall health.
It can actually predict what type of diet you should stick to and comes with a 7-day personalized meal plan. You can filter your meal plan based on your goal, for example to lose weight or build muscle.
You get insights into your body’s metabolism of different food groups, including gluten and caffeine. We thought this was really detailed, and it comes with information on how your DNA impacts your response and advice on how to change your diet.
The test was really insightful when it comes to understanding how your DNA influences your likelihood of snacking. You get advice on how this can affect your ability to lose weight.
Your report comes with detailed exercise information. Our colleague learned which exercise routine to follow, alongside plenty of workout suggestions. It even has small demo videos to guide you, but we were a bit disappointed they had no audio!
It usually takes 3-4 weeks to get the report. We received ours in 4 weeks.
Assess Your Weight with My Toolbox Genomics!
4. SelfDecode – Subscription Service & Ongoing Weight Reports
- Huge choice of reports relating to weight and exercise
- Food sensitivity reports and vitamin assessment
- Ongoing subscription for access to new reports
- Option to upload DNA from other companies for quick results
SelfDecode has an ongoing subscription service that you can pay upfront for lifetime access, or on an annual basis. With this subscription, you get ongoing weight reports that you can pick and choose as you please. Although the reports are only free with lifetime access.
If you’ve already taken a DNA test with 23andMe, AncestryDNA, Courtagen, or FamilyTreeDNA, you can upload your raw data and save yourself the cost of a separate test. We tried it with 23andMe and AncestryDNA and it was really easy.
You also have the option of buying a DNA test from SelfDecode if you like.
SelfDecode has various reports relating to weight loss. Our favorite was the bodyweight report that analyzes your appetite, food choices, energy metabolism, and nutrient levels.
We also liked the food sensitivity report, which is a good way of finding out if you have any intolerances. Ours included reports for wheat, lactose, gluten, and alcohol, with an explanation of which foods to avoid.
There’s a fitness report, if you want insight into exercise. Our colleague learned about their response to exercise, risks of injury, and even how likely they are to be motivated for exercise.
Uploading existing DNA meant our report was ready in less than 24 hours. With the DNA test, it took 8 weeks.
Assess Your Weight & Fitness with SelfDecode!
5. Sequencing – Snacking Habits, Obesity Risks, & Overweight Potential
- 29 apps relating to diet and fitness, including a weight loss report
- Determines your risk of obesity and whether it’s difficult for you to lose weight
- Upload existing DNA to get results quickly
- Results take 4-8 weeks
Sequencing has two standard DNA tests and loads of reports and apps that you purchase individually once you’ve taken the test. We found 29 apps relating to nutrition and fitness to help you with your weight loss goals.
One good thing about Sequencing is that you can upload existing DNA from providers like 23andMe and AncestryDNA, which means you don’t even have to buy the initial DNA test. We found it really easy to use our raw data to get access to the individual reports. And it meant we got our report instantly.
After testing all the apps, we thought the best one was the weight loss report. It gives tailored insights to drop body fat, such as whether you should follow the low-carb, high-carb, or Mediterranean diet.
It also assesses other factors that can influence your weight loss. We learned about obesity risk, the difficulty of losing weight, and the likelihood of overconsuming carbs.
Our report also offered advice on snacking habits, sweet tooth, overconsumption of carbs risk, and overweight potential.
You get exercise information, too. Our report showed our colleague’s overall fitness benefits, risk of injuries, and how exercise influences their health. You can buy the individual exercise report for even deeper fitness insights.
It takes 4-8 weeks to get your results, but we got ours in 6 weeks.
Optimize Your Weight Loss with Sequencing!
6. Vitagene – Exercise Planner & Recommendations
- Ethnic map and regional percentages alongside health information
- Personalized macronutrient and meal plan
- Exercise recommendations, including type and intensity
- Results in 4-6 weeks
Vitagene offers an all-in-one test that includes a health and ancestry report that arrives within 4-6 weeks of you submitting your sample. As an added bonus, our researcher learned about their global ancestry and history, including an ethnic map and regional percentages.
We liked the quality of the report. It includes a customized meal plan, macronutrient breakdown, and calorie intake with percentages. It’s easy to see what calories you should be eating every day to meet weight loss goals.
In the report, our researcher could learn about their body’s ability to metabolize different types of fat, lactose, caffeine, and alcohol, which helped him understand what to include (or take out) of his diet.
It analyzes other aspects of your DNA that can impact your weight loss and overall health, including sodium intake and blood pressure levels, and cholesterol levels. And we also liked that you get advice on which supplements to take, too. This can help you minimize lethargy so you stay motivated to stick to your weight loss goals.
As well as diet information, our researcher received loads of exercise tips. The report covers the type, intensity, and duration of exercise you should stick to every week. It even assesses how your body responds to exercise, such as your ability to build muscle, the likelihood of muscle cramps, and weight response to exercise.
We haven’t seen an interactive workout planner before, so it’s a great option for keeping on top of your exercise regime. We could easily schedule workouts and plan the entire week ahead.
Get Nutrition & Exercise Tips with Vitagene!
7. InsideTracker – Ability to Track Weight Loss Goals
- Daily tasks to monitor your health and weight loss
- See which foods to eat and avoid
- Get recipes based on your nutrient deficiencies and calorie goals
- Results in 2-4 weeks
InsideTracker offers an all-in-one test so you can learn how to improve weight loss and enhance your overall health at the same time. The website promises results in 2-4 weeks, but we actually received ours in just 1 week.
The test gives you information on which foods to eat based on your body’s needs, deficiencies, and food preferences. For example, our colleague was low in vitamin D, so was advised to eat more fish.
You get daily actions like drinking more water or adding in oatmeal for breakfast. We found that you can tick these off every day from your online dashboard, which is a great feature for keeping track.
InsideTracker comes with hundreds of healthy recipes, which are all really easy to follow. You can see the full macronutrient breakdowns to keep on top of your intake. We liked that each recipe also tells you the nutrients it’s rich in, so they’re personalized to you and what your body needs.
You get tailored fitness recommendations, too. For our researcher, this included adding in high-intensity workouts, going for long walks, and regular bike rides. And you can see which supplements to take.
Combine Weight Loss & Health with InsideTracker!
8. Gene Food – Matches a Diet to Your Genotype
- Categorize your diet type, including pescatarian, nordic, and two others
- Know which foods to eat and avoid
- Two-week diet plan and shopping list
- Results in 3-4 weeks
Gene Food uses your DNA to categorize you into a certain diet type. For example, our colleague was told to follow mostly a California keto diet because his body has a favorable response to fats over carbs. Other diets include nordic, vegetarian, and pescatarian.
It only took three weeks to get the report. It’s a very in-depth report and includes a full macronutrient breakdown, with advice on specific food types to include in your diet. It analyzes your metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbs, so our colleague could see how well their body handles each food group.
It also analyzes your body’s response to caffeine and alcohol. It offers something we haven’t seen elsewhere, which is advice on how much sleep you need. And our researcher even learned how well their body is able to remove environmental toxins that could affect weight loss.
Each plan comes with a two-week nutrition plan and a shopping list to get you started. Most companies charge extra for these services, so we were surprised to see them included at no added fee.
You can see which genes the kit tests for, as well as your specific genotypes. We liked that these are color-coded to show you whether you carry any mutations, and of course, how these then affect your diet.
Find Your Perfect Diet with Gene Food!
9. Muhdo – Combines Weight with Health Insights
- Unique diet insights including sweet tooth and over-snacking risk
- Exercise reports with injury risks
- Learn about your risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes
- Results in just 4 weeks
Muhdo’s DNA Lite test offers loads of diet, fitness, and health insights in one kit. In terms of diet, we learned all about how our colleague’s body responds to carbohydrates, fats, protein, and sugar.
The report included plenty of other weight loss factors, like the risk of overeating sweet foods, snacking risk, metabolic rate, and fat distribution. We liked that it gave unique insights you don’t get everywhere else. We would’ve appreciated macronutrient and calorie goals, though.
Our researcher also received detailed fitness information, which included the effect of exercise on weight, lean body mass, recovery rate, and much more. You can get an interactive DNA-aligned workout planner and a training plan, but these are only available with the more expensive kits.
You do get hundreds of recipes in your report, though, which we really liked. These are personalized to your preferences and requirements. For example, we could select pescatarian or vegetarian to get tailored recipes.
You can learn about all kinds of health factors, too. It reports on your risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Our researcher even learned about their risk of cold and flu.
Results only took 4 weeks, which we thought was very quick considering the information you get.
Get Diet & Health Insights with Muhdo!
What’s in the Fine Print?
Some DNA tests have hidden costs and other surprises that you can’t always see straight away. I’ve done some digging so you don’t get caught out.
Most of the kits on this list offer free shipping, but there are a few to watch out for. Living DNA, GeneFood, Sequencing, and DNAfit make you pay the cost of mailing your kit.
Diet and nutrition DNA testing companies sometimes try to sell additional services after you’ve got your results.
Vitagene upsells supplements which are delivered to your door each month. While these add-ons could help you stay on the right nutritional track, you’ll have to pay for them.
Be wary of ongoing subscriptions, too. Everlywell’s subscription service means you get deliveries every 3, 6, or 12 months. It helps you save money in the long run, but also means you’re charged regularly.
How Do Our Top Picks Compete On Price?
In terms of value for money, it doesn’t get much better than Living DNA. This is my top choice because it’s affordable, only costing you just over $125, and it gives you way more information than you’d expect for that price, including food sensitivities and a full exercise breakdown.
If you’re looking for a cheaper option, Everlywell comes in at the lowest cost at just shy of $50 for the metabolism test. And you can save up to 30% with the subscription option, too.
My Toolbox Genomics is in a higher price range, but you do get quite a lot of information for that cost. It comes with fitness and diet information, plus loads of health insights that you usually have to pay extra for.
SelfDecode is probably one of the most expensive on this list. You have to pay a subscription fee to access reports, which costs nearly $300. If you don’t have existing DNA, you also need to buy a separate kit for $90. And the annual subscription is $97 a year, but you still have to pay for individual reports. They’re half price, but still, not free.
Which Is the Best DNA Test for Weight Loss?
The right one for you depends on what you need from your results, how much information you’re after, and of course, your budget.
If you’re looking for the best all-rounder (and value for money), go for Living DNA, my #1 choice. It has everything in one, including a highly detailed exercise and meal plan, and a full list of personalized recommendations just for you.
If you want a personalized meal plan and fitness routine, plus extra diet insights, choose Toolbox Genomics. It’s one of the best for analyzing other, important factors that can affect your weight loss.
Or you might consider Everlywell if you’re interested in how your hormones can affect weight loss, and especially your thyroid function.
Screening your DNA can tell you much more than what to eat or how to exercise. Assess for health risks in the comfort of your own home with one of our top picks for at-home health DNA tests.
| Exercise Plans | Food Recommendations | Food Intolerance Reports | Vitamin Reports | Weight Loss Hormone Reports | Starting Price | |
| Living DNA | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | $129.00 |
| Everlywell | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | $159.00 |
| My Toolbox Genomics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | $199.00 |
| SelfDecode | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | $199.00 |
| Sequencing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | $189.00 |
| Vitagene | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | $139.00 |
| InsideTracker | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | $249.00 |
| Gene Food | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | $185.00 |
Our Top Picks – The Best DNA Tests for Weight Loss in 2023
| Rank | Provider | Overall Score | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |   | Read Review | $129.00 | Visit Website |
| 2 |   | Read Review | $49.00 | Visit Website |
| 3 |   | Read Review | Visit Website | |
| 4 |   | Read Review | Visit Website |
FAQs
How does DNA affect weight and weight loss?
Some of the factors that affect your weight – including your appetite, fitness levels, and ability to lose weight and keep it off – are genetic. Being aware of these genetic predispositions may help you decide what type of weight management strategy is best suited to your goals.
With that said, biology is not destiny, and your genes are only part of the picture. Factors such as your eating habits, level of physical activity, and age also play a huge role in your weight. When you’re looking for an effective weight management strategy, you should take all of these factors into account – and consult with a doctor or nutritionist before embarking on any new diet program.
Can a DNA test help you lose weight?
A DNA test by itself can’t help you lose weight, but it can help you formulate a diet and weight loss plan that’s tailored to your specific genetic traits. This helps you make the most of your weight loss efforts and lets you manage your weight and fitness long term.
How accurate are DNA weight loss kits?
A DNA test looks at specific genetic markers in your DNA that have been shown to be associated with various physical and physiological traits. DNA tests are able to interpret these markers pretty accurately and tell you what they mean. While no DNA test is 100% accurate, the companies listed here use the latest science and accredited labs.
What sort of things do DNA weight loss kits measure?
DNA weight loss kits can explore factors such as the speed of your metabolism, your genetic likelihood of being overweight, whether you’re genetically predisposed to experience food cravings, and how quickly you may regain weight after weight loss. The reports can also give you insights into how your body responds to exercise and whether you could potentially have a vitamin deficiency.
Can a DNA test tell you what to eat?
No DNA test will give you a complete diet plan. But, depending on the test you take, your results may include recommendations for foods that meet the nutritional needs of your genes. These foods might be recommended based on what your body responds to best for weight loss, or what your body needs based on deficiencies. A test like LivingDNA can tell you exactly which foods to include in your diet, and which ones to drop out.
Does insurance cover the cost of DNA weight loss kits?
Insurance does not typically cover the cost of DNA weight loss test kits. That said, you should get in touch with your insurance provider to fully understand your options.
What is the best DNA weight loss kit?
There are many DNA tests available to facilitate weight loss. The one that works best for you will depend on your personal preferences and goals. All of the tests on this list meet our high expectations for accuracy, thoroughness, and actionable insight.
Our top choice overall though, has to be Living DNA.It gives you the most comprehensive results, with a detailed look at which foods to include to help with weight loss, what to avoid, where you have deficiencies, and how your body metabolizes certain foods.
