We all know how it is: some people feel full after just a small snack, while others need a whole meal before they even think about stopping. It comes as no surprise that such differences are also noticeable in obesity therapy \u2013 losing weight is complex, and finding the right medication is often a gamble. Looking at simple indicators such as body mass index is often of little help here. Two people with the same BMI of 35 kg\/m\u00b2 can react completely differently to the same medication. The good news is that a genetic test might help here.<\/p>\n
Full? It depends on the person<\/b><\/p>\n
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic had nearly 800 people with obesity consume lasagne, pudding and milk until they were full. The result: the range was from 140 to over 2,000 calories.<\/p>\n
Classic parameters such as body weight, hormones or age hardly explained these differences. The trail led to genetics. The researchers combined variants from ten genes associated with eating behaviour and used them to develop the Calories to Satiation Genetic Risk Score (CTS-GRS). The principle: a blood or saliva sample is sufficient to determine an individual\u2019s satiety threshold.<\/p>\n
From \u2018hungry brain\u2019 to \u2018hungry gut\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n
And what does this mean in practice?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Patients with a high satiety threshold (\u2018hungry brain\u2019)<\/b> \u2013 i.e. those who need large portions to feel full \u2013 benefit more from phentermine topiramate<\/b>. The drug works precisely by effectively limiting portion size.<\/p>\n