Next Big Thing: Fitness Apps Based On Your DNA
One-size fits all has never been a successful way to achieve anything at scale. New fitness apps understand this and are individually designing programs based on the user’s genes. Read more here…
One of the most evergreen categories of consumer spending is diet and fitness. It doesn’t matter how clearly something is a fad, or a crash diet, or too good to be true—it seems that there will always be people willing to try the newest or next big thing. In order to attain a healthier lifestyle and slimmer waistline it seems that anything is worth trying out. These days, that seems even more true if it’s delivered by phone or mobile app.
But, the problem with much advice and particular regimes is they are from one size fits all model. Health, on the other hand, is extremely variable. We are all individual. There really is no single way to gain optimum health because it largely depends on the idiosyncrasies of our genes.
Genetic Specification
However, an offshoot of a band of science known as nutrigenomics claims it can fix that problem by giving you “personally optimized wellness, with a regimen catered to your DNA.” Following on from the popularity of startups like 23 and Me—which tells users about their ancestral history based on a swab that’s sent to a lab. These apps swear that the problem with past diet and fitness plans is that they’ve been ignoring the place where all the answers lie. By delving into your DNA, they claim, they can provide the tailored answers you need to succeed in the quest for optimum health.
Nutrigenomics is possible thanks to the human genome project, which was “the biggest collaborative project aimed at better understanding the biology of our species” and was conducted in the 1990s by scientists working together from three continents. Now that nutrigenomics has been adapted for use in the consumer app and startup market, we are starting to benefit further from the original purpose of the human genome project.
As a piece in Backchannel put it:
“As the field has grown more sophisticated, so, too have the questions. Imagine if, instead of blindly hopping from Atkins to Whole30 in the hopes that one will be the secret to weight loss and glowing skin, you could feed your DNA and an app would sort out the answers ahead of time. If you were at risk for iron deficiency, it might tell you to eat spinach; if your Achilles tendon were at risk of a tear, it would tell you to stretch your calves before running.”
So what are these new apps and services, and what do they offer? Here is a look at the frontrunners in this growing field:
DNAFit
This UK based service analyzes a swab that users send in to reveal a range of factors, including “Ideal diet and vitamin and micronutrient intake; a person’s carbohydrate and fat sensitivity; lactose and gluten intolerance risk; ability to recover after exercise; salt, alcohol, and caffeine sensitivity as well how prone a person is to of soft tissue injury.” To piece together your tailored recommendations, it tests 45 gene variants in the body and sends you personalized recommendations for diet, exercise, and recovery.
Fitness Genes
Another similar service offering is DNAFit. This company offers tailored diet and fitness advice based on a genetic test. They describe their target market as the “cohort in the population who are looking or more scientific approaches to getting in shape and losing weight.”
Helix
Is a genomics startup that has plans to launch a slew of apps that will put users genetic data to use. Instead of offering a simple, one off test, Helix will store your genetic data and share it, with your permission, with its partner companies who can answer a range of other genetic-based questions, including DNA-based dining suggestions, family planning, and what your future children might look like.
It looks as though fitness and nutrition has entered uncharted territory. Modern technology creates an atmosphere of innovation capable of amazing revelations. We can’t wait to see just what might come next.