This review found no clear or consistent evidence that genetic risk communication alone either raises motivation or translates into actual change in dietary intake or physical activity to reduce the risk of cardiometabolic disorders in adults .
Genetic risk prediction of chronic conditions including obesity , diabetes and CVD currently has limited predictive power but its potential to engage healthy behaviour change has been of immense research interest .
We aim ed to underst and whether the latter is indeed true by conducting a systematic review and meta- analysis investigating whether genetic risk communication affects motivation and actual behaviour change towards preventative lifestyle modification .
Psychological responses to genetic testing for weight gain: a vignette study.
Genetic testing for obesity risk is increasingly available to the public but few studies have examined motivational or affective reactions . Here we report findings from a " vignette " study investigating reactions to " higher-risk " and " average-risk " results for the obesity-related FTO gene in two groups : a panel sample of individuals with weight concerns , for whom testing may have treatment implication s ( n = 306 , mean age = 45 years , mean BMI = 35 ) and a student sample ( n = 395 , mean age = 25 years , mean BMI = 23 ) , for whom testing would have implication s for obesity prevention . Participants were given FTO gene information that described higher-risk alleles as linked with modest weight gain and slightly higher risk of obesity . They responded to both higher- and average-risk vignettes , with order r and omized . Interest in genetic testing was high overall , and higher in panel respondents than students ( 93 % vs. 78 % would " probably " or " definitely " have the test ; P < 0.001 ) . In students , a higher-risk result generated higher motivation to change ( d = 0.15 ; P < 0.001 ) , but also slightly higher negative affect ( d = 0.03 , P < 0.001 ) and fatalism ( d = 0.05 , P < 0.001 ) than an average-risk result . Panel respondents also had higher motivation to change ( d = 0.17 , P < 0.001 ) as well as relief about having an explanation for their body weight ( d = 0.02 , P = 0.013 ) in the higher-risk condition , but no increase in fatalism or depression . These results suggest that at the level of anticipated responses to FTO gene feedback , higher-risk results had positive motivational effects with minimal changes in negative affect or fatalism . Genetic testing has the potential to be a useful clinical or preventive tool when combined with appropriate information
This review found no clear or consistent evidence that genetic risk communication alone either raises motivation or translates into actual change in dietary intake or physical activity to reduce the risk of cardiometabolic disorders in adults .
Genetic risk prediction of chronic conditions including obesity , diabetes and CVD currently has limited predictive power but its potential to engage healthy behaviour change has been of immense research interest .
We aim ed to underst and whether the latter is indeed true by conducting a systematic review and meta- analysis investigating whether genetic risk communication affects motivation and actual behaviour change towards preventative lifestyle modification .