Researchers wanted to see if a person's genetic makeup, measured by a 'polygenic risk score' for body weight, affects how much weight they regain after losing some. They studied 9,897 postmenopausal women who had taken part in a large dietary trial. The women were followed for seven years after they had lost a modest amount of weight.
In European American women who lost at least 5% of their weight, those with a very high genetic risk score regained weight nearly twice as fast per year (0.94 kg) compared to women with an average score (0.48 kg). However, this pattern was not seen in the African American women in the study. The researchers noted that the statistical link in the full European American group was close to, but did not quite reach, the usual threshold for scientific significance.
No safety issues were reported, as the study only looked at weight changes and did not test a new treatment. The main reason to be careful is that this is a single, observational finding from a specific group of women. It does not prove that genes cause weight regain, and the results may not apply to men, younger women, or people from other backgrounds. Readers should see this as an early step in understanding how genetics might play a role in long-term weight management, not as a tool for personal prediction or a reason to give up on healthy habits.
