My DNA Said I’m Wired to Struggle With Weight — Here’s What I’m Doing About It
- Dr Victoria Manning
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
And why this changes everything about medical weight loss
Before I get into my own results, a quick note on the testing I’m referring to.
What is MAP Health?
MAP Health is a personalised health programme built around your body — not generic advice.
It combines three powerful data sources to create a plan you can actually follow:
DNA (genetics): your blueprint — how you’re wired to respond to nutrition, exercise, sleep and recovery
Blood biomarkers: what’s happening in your body right now, including markers linked to vitamin status, cholesterol and inflammation
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM): real-world insight into how your body handles food and daily life — from morning coffee to late-night snacks
By bringing these insights together, MAP Health helps you stop guessing and start making decisions based on evidence.
Now, here’s what it showed about me.
I’ve spent years helping patients optimise their health and metabolism. So when my MAP Health results landed in my inbox, I expected “interesting.”
I didn’t expect to feel genuinely stopped in my tracks.
My report put me in the 91st percentile for genetic predisposition to insulin resistance, based on 2,426 genetic variants.
In plain English: my DNA places me at higher risk than 91% of the population for developing the metabolic dysfunction that drives stubborn weight gain, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and accelerated ageing.
And it explained a lot.
The genetic hand I was dealt
A satiety signal that’s weaker from the start
One of the standout findings was an MC4R gene variant associated with lower melanocortin 4 receptor activity.
This pathway plays a key role in appetite and satiety signalling. When it’s less active, the “I’m full” message can be quieter — meaning weight management can feel like you’re fighting your own biology.
Methylation: mostly fine… with one important catch
My MTHFR activity looks typical (thank goodness). But I have lower MTHFD1 activity, which can affect folate metabolism and methylation.
Methylation matters because it’s involved in:
Cardiovascular health
Detoxification pathways
Inflammation regulation
Cellular repair
If your methylation capacity is under-supported, it can quietly influence how you feel, recover, and age.
Cardiovascular genetics: reassuring — but not a free pass
Interestingly, my cholesterol genetics were fairly typical (around the 70th percentile) and my blood work reflects that:
LDL: 2.89 mmol/L (desirable)
HDL: 1.72 mmol/L (optimal)
ApoB/A-I ratio: 0.51 (optimal)
My omega-3 to omega-6 balance is also in a very healthy range — something many people struggle to achieve. But it should be !
But here’s the key point: these numbers look good despite my insulin resistance predisposition, not because I’m “lucky.” They look good because I’ve been actively managing my metabolism.
What my CGM revealed (and why it mattered more than willpower)
For 14 days I wore a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) while on 2.5 mg Mounjaro. My average glucose was 5.0 mmol/L — stable and steady.
Before Mounjaro, I was regularly spiking to 8–11+ mmol/L after meals.
The CGM also showed something I love about data: it removes guesswork.
For me:
A glass of wine produced a moderate response
Beer had a noticeably bigger impact
And certain meals (yes, including KFC) sent my CGM into full alarm mode
No shame. No moral judgement. Just information.
And that’s the point.
This isn’t about “trying harder.” It’s about understanding that some bodies run different metabolic software — and your results improve dramatically when you stop fighting your biology and start working with it.
Why most weight loss fails (and what we’re doing differently)
A hard truth: if someone uses GLP-1 medications as a temporary fix, then stops without addressing the underlying drivers, the weight often returns.
Because the predisposition doesn’t disappear.
So what if we used GLP-1/GIP therapy not as a forever solution — but as a metabolic reset tool?
A window of opportunity.
A period where appetite and glucose regulation are supported, while we simultaneously build the foundations that make results sustainable.
That’s the thinking behind The Longevity Weight Programme.
The Longevity Weight Programme: precision, not guesswork
This isn’t “take this medication and hope.” It’s a structured, data-led programme designed to improve metabolic health — with weight loss as a downstream result.
1) Your genetic foundation
We begin with MAP Health’s DNA analysis, covering 113 genetic traits linked to metabolism, insulin sensitivity, nutrient processing, and more.
We look at things like:
Insulin resistance predisposition
MC4R status (satiety signalling)
Methylation capacity
Carbohydrate vs fat handling tendencies
2) Your metabolic baseline
We measure what’s happening now with blood biomarkers such as:
HbA1c
Insulin and C-peptide
Inflammatory markers
Lipid profile (including advanced markers where appropriate)
Nutrient status
No assumptions. No generic plans.
3) Real-time glucose monitoring
A 14-day CGM shows how your body responds to:
Specific meals
Stress
Sleep quality
Exercise
This is where “healthy food” becomes your healthy food.
4) Medication support (when clinically appropriate)
For some patients, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can be a powerful tool to reduce insulin resistance and stabilise glucose.
But the crucial part is this:
Medication is paired with targeted nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle changes based on your genetic blueprint and real-time data.
5) Nutritional precision
Genes like FGF21, CD36, SLC2A2 (and others) can influence how you respond to dietary patterns.
For example, my results suggest:
Higher CD36 activity (stronger fat preference/utilisation)
FGF21 patterns that may favour dietary carbs over fats
That combination changes how I structure meals compared to someone with different variants.
6) Methylation and inflammation support
With lower MTHFD1 activity, I focus on supporting methylation pathways with:
Active B vitamins
The right folate forms
Strategic nutrient timing
We also monitor markers like homocysteine where relevant, because longevity is about what’s happening under the surface.
7) Cardiovascular protection
Even with “good cholesterol,” insulin resistance predisposition can increase cardiovascular risk.
So we keep an eye on:
ApoB
Lp(a) where appropriate
Inflammatory markers
Overall metabolic risk profile
Because the goal isn’t just weight loss — it’s healthspan.
The results that matter (so far)
Since starting Mounjaro at an appropriate dose for my genetics and metabolism:
Average glucose: 5.0 mmol/L (down from 8–11+ spikes)
HbA1c: 33.11 mmol/mol (optimal range)
Insulin: 59.1 pmol/L (optimal range)
No more post-meal crashes
Weight management that feels achievable for the first time
But the biggest shift is this: I now have clarity.
I know what my body needs, why it responds the way it does, and how to work with it.
Why this is different from every other programme
Most programmes offer:
A meal plan
A supplement list
A medication
And a “good luck” send-off
The Longevity Weight Programme gives you:
Your genetic blueprint
Your real-time glucose response
A personalised nutrition strategy
Supplementation aligned to your pathways
Clinical oversight and monitoring
A plan for maintaining results after the programme
Because you don’t need more motivation.
You need a strategy that matches your biology.
The bigger picture: longevity and metabolic health
Insulin resistance isn’t just about weight. It’s linked to:
Accelerated biological ageing
Increased cardiovascular risk
Higher inflammation
Impaired cellular repair
Reduced healthspan
When we address insulin resistance early — with precision and proper support — we’re not just changing the number on the scales.
We’re changing the next 20–40 years.
Ready to understand your body at this level?
If you’ve struggled with weight despite “doing everything right”…
If you’ve lost weight only to regain it…
If you suspect there’s something deeper going on with your metabolism…
You’re probably right.
The Longevity Weight Programme (with MAP Health integration) launches January 2026.
If you’d like to explore whether you’re a candidate, get in touch via the contact form on this site.
This is a medical programme delivered by a medical practitioner specialising in metabolic health and longevity medicine. Testing may include MAP Health comprehensive analysis (DNA + biomarkers + CGM), medical assessment, and ongoing clinical oversight.