title: Genetic susceptibility testing and readiness to control weight: Results from a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that adding obesity gene feedback (FTO) to simple weight control advice at a life stage with raised risk of weight gain (university) increases readiness to control weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individually randomized controlled trial comparing the effect of: (i) simple weight control advice plus FTO feedback (FA) and (ii) simple weight control advice only (AO) on readiness to engage with weight control. Differences in stage of change by genotype and differential weight control behaviors were secondary outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1,016 participants randomized, only 279 completed follow-up, yielding 90% power to detect a small effect for readiness to control weight. As predicted, FA participants were more likely to be in the contemplation stage than AO participants (P = 0.023). Participants receiving higher-risk genetic results were at a higher stage of change than controls (P = 0.003), with a trend toward a higher stage of change than those getting lower-risk results (P = 0.051). Lower-risk results did not decrease weight control intentions compared with controls (P = 0.55). There were no group differences in adherence to recommended weight control behaviors (P = 0.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adding FTO feedback to weight control advice enhanced readiness to control weight, without evidence for genetic determinism, but had no more effect on behavior than weight control advice alone.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behavior Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Susanne F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Beeken
authors.forename: Cornelia H M
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van Jaarsveld
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human