Can A DNA Test Give You A Better Body?

With a genetically optimized plan in hand, Alex Kuczynski tries out the ultimate in personal training

- Alex Kuczynski

In sports, I have always characterized myself as a grinder, someone with limited skills and almost no natural talent. Unlike genetically gifted athletes, I’m the one who shoulders through, mile after mile, set after set, lap after lap, calling not upon my talents but on grim determination. In a poignant moment, my husband—after watching me playing a long, undistinguished tennis match—remarked, “Wow. You try so hard.”

And it turns out, this is genetic. Our biology is, to some degree, our destiny, as Freud famously remarked. Genes in our cells tell us whether we are born to sprint to the finish or grind through. With the exception of identical twins, every person has a unique blueprint, inherited from our parents, made up of about 25,000 genes gathered on 23 chromosomal pairs found in every cell in our bodies. And those cells dictate whether or not you process fat and carbs well, or have the ability to build fast-twitch muscle, and how you can best train your body. While we cannot change our DNA, we can change our diet and exercise habits to make the most of our genetic makeup. DNAFit, a sports-focused lab in England, offers a test that reveals genetic information about your physiology, as well as training and dietary plans for optimal body conditioning and athletic performance.