Children as young as four years old are being offered DNA tests that will help determine the kind of diet and exercise that will work best for them later on in life, the Daily Mail reports.
This is the first time ever that personalized diets and exercises based on genetic footprints has been targeted at children living in the United Kingdom. Parents of these children sent off a mouth swab from their child and received a 20-page report containing valuable information about their child's genetic composition. Children are classified into one of three types of diet - low fat, low carbohydrate, or one that is balanced and calorie-reduced, along with an exercise guidance based on their genetic make-up.
The service costs almost $205 and is provided by BioClinics, specialists in DNA, drug and alcohol testing. Founder and scientific director, Dr. Nicholas McChrystal, 35, said: "Unless there is an underlying medical condition, there is no excuse for any child or adult in this country to be seriously overweight. As such, individuals and especially parents need to start acknowledging when there is a problem, take personal responsibility for it and take effective steps to combat it. The DNA test is just one tool that can be used in the fight. In combination, the DNA test report is a powerful tool in the quest for sustainable weight loss. It's not a fad diet - the information gained from the test will apply to that person throughout their lives."
"Protecting the emotional well-being of a child is very important. However, not acknowledging a weight problem, or even that a child is starting to put on weight, is to fail as a parent, not just in the protection of that child's physical well-being but also in their emotional well-being," she added.
