Just recently we’ve seen a steady increase in the number of consumer genetics companies offering “genetically informed” diets or “genetically informed” exercise programs, or both. The attraction is, of course, the personalization factor and that it will literally be tailored to best suit your needs, but how effective are they really?
For many people, they still believe that these genetic testing methods are somewhat of a placebo. They feel that of course you will perform better of you think you will because of your genetics and you are following what you believe to be a genetically driven training program. Also, will those who believe more in genetic testing have better results than those who feel skeptical about it?
A lot of healing comes down to the therapy that’s taken and will be different for each. Even if two people are suffering from the exact form of a disease at the exact stage, they will have different symptoms and therefore different therapeutic requirements. It’s not only patients that are tricked by the charms of genetic data. Doctors to find themselves being duped into thinking certain drugs will behave in one way, only to see them act in another.
The same can be seen in biopharma companies that use biomarkers during early drug development to guide important decisions. The biomarkers are praised and embraced when the result they wanted came through but ignored completely if not. However, going back to the patients for a moment, is there anything wrong in using genetic testing to motivate behavior change in those who are susceptible to it (i.e. those that are already seeking it themselves)?
It’s clear that genetic testing will become more popular and there’s not much anyone can do about it. If it is a placebo, bit still has a positive effect on people nonetheless, then where’s the harm really? And if scientists can, in fact, prove the link between genetic testing and the effectiveness of these tailored diets or exercise programs then that’s even better!
Related Links;
- How Specious Genetic Tests Might Motivate Real Behavior Change / FORBES
- The Limits of Personalized Medicine / The Atlantic
- The impact of communicating genetic risks of disease on risk-reducing health behavior. / TheBMJ
- A Placebo Can Make You Run Faster / NY Times
- The Effect of Placebo-Induced Changes in Expectancies on Maximal Force Production in College Students / Taylor & Francis Online
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