Can eating less change your genes to help you lose weight better?
Epigenetic modifications in adipose tissue following calorie-restricted diets in adults with obesity: a randomized controlled experimental trial
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
When obese people eat 20–30% fewer calories for a few months, their fat cells change how their genes work—turning on helpful ones and turning off harmful ones—without losing more weight than others.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 570 / 90
Evidence Score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. Considered the gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
When obese people eat 20–30% fewer calories for a few months, their fat cells change how their genes work—turning on helpful ones and turning off harmful ones—without losing more weight than others.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 570 / 90
Evidence Score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. Considered the gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Publication
Related Content
Claims (5)
Certain foods and dietary patterns may affect how genes are regulated without changing the DNA sequence, which in turn can influence metabolism and bodily functions.
In obese adults, reducing calorie intake is linked to changes in specific microRNA levels in fat tissue, which are associated with increased breakdown of fats and the formation of new fat cells.
When people reduce their calorie intake, changes in gene regulation within fat tissue are linked to better insulin sensitivity, independent of how much weight is lost.
In obese adults, reducing calorie intake by 20-30% for 12 to 16 weeks changes epigenetic markers in fat tissue, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, and alters the levels of specific microRNAs, which are associated with better insulin response and lower levels of inflammation.
People respond differently to calorie-restricted diets due to differences in their epigenetic markers, and measuring these markers before starting a diet may help identify who is most likely to benefit from such interventions.