Genetics may help explain why results from weight-loss jabs vary, say scientistsนักวิทยาศาสตร์กล่าวว่า พันธุกรรมอาจช่วยอธิบายได้ว่าทำไมผลลัพธ์จากการฉีดยาลดน้ำหนักจึงแตกต่างกันในแต่ละบุคคล

New clinical research suggests that gene variations may partly account for why weight-loss treatments work remarkably well for some patients yet prove less effective for others.

Scientists have identified two specific genetic variants linked to gut hormone pathways that appear to influence both treatment outcomes and side-effects associated with popular obesity medications.

The findings, published in the journal Nature, draw on data from nearly 28,000 patients prescribed GLP1 receptor agonist drugs.

These medications, including semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, and tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Mounjaro, mimic natural gut hormones that regulate appetite and insulin release.

Millions of people worldwide now rely on such drugs to manage obesity, yet the reasons behind individual variation in response have long remained elusive.

Researchers from 23andMe, a nonprofit medical research institute, reported that one variant, known as rs10305420, was associated with slightly greater weight loss among carriers.

Another variant, rs1800437, was linked to nausea and vomiting in patients taking tirzepatide, though it bore no significant correlation with the amount of weight lost.

These discoveries underscore how subtle genetic differences may shape an individual's physiological response to medication.

Should these preliminary findings be validated by larger studies, they could pave the way for a more personalised approach to obesity treatment.

Clinicians have long emphasised that a one-size-fits-all strategy rarely yields optimal outcomes in chronic disease management.

Were physicians able to screen patients' genetic profiles before prescribing weight-loss drugs, they might anticipate who would benefit most and who might experience adverse reactions.

Nonetheless, experts have cautioned that the overall impact of genetics on drug response appears modest at this stage.

The interplay between genetic predisposition, lifestyle factors, and metabolic health remains extraordinarily complex.

Further large-scale studies will be indispensable if researchers are to develop reliable genetic screening tools for clinical use in the foreseeable future.