AHS17

We tend to think that good genes make us thin and healthy, whereas bad genes make us fat and sick. But what if we could turn our “good” genes on and our “bad” genes off by making right lifestyle choices? The science of epigenetics suggests this is true. Lifestyle factors, diet in particular, can modify molecular switches on our DNA, which can turn genes on or off. These switches are known as epigenetic marks. My research investigates whether different diets (i.e. low-carb vs. los fat) can induce different epigenetic changes, and whether these changes contribute to make us gain or lose weight diet. By comparing diet-induced epigenetic changes between the high and low responders to either a low-carb or a low-fat diet, we aim to identify epigenetic biomarkers of weight loss or regain for personalized weight-loss strategies.