MyPhenome Genetic Test Predicts Weight Loss Outcomes Across GLP-1 and Surgical Obesity Treatments, Mayo Clinic Studies Show
核心洞察
Two new Mayo Clinic studies presented at DDW 2026 demonstrate the MyPhenome (搜索) test can predict long-term weight loss outcomes after sleeve gastrectomy and tirzepatide therapy.
Patients with the Hungry Brain phenotype maintained significantly greater weight loss over a decade post-surgery compared to Hungry Gut patients (20.9% vs. 14.3% at eight years, p=0.02).
A distinct subphenotype with fast gastric emptying and low GLP-1 (搜索) secretion achieved nearly double the weight loss on tirzepatide at six months (21.5% vs. ~10-12%, p=0.0001).
Two landmark studies presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026 have strengthened the evidence base for precision obesity (搜索) medicine, demonstrating that the MyPhenome (搜索) genetic test can predict weight loss outcomes across both surgical and pharmacological interventions. Led by Mayo Clinic physician scientist and Phenomix co-founder Andres Acosta, MD, PhD, the findings underscore that a patient's underlying biology—not BMI alone—should drive treatment decisions.
The MyPhenome (搜索) test, developed by Phenomix Sciences (搜索), is the only clinically validated obesity (搜索) test on the market built on prospective, trait-based genetic science. It uses a simple saliva or cheek swab to identify the biological mechanisms contributing to an individual's weight gain, classifying patients into phenotypes such as Hungry Gut, Hungry Brain, Emotional Hunger, and emerging categories like reduced energy expenditure ("Slow Burn").
Sleeve Gastrectomy Outcomes Over a Decade
The first study, "Performance of a Machine Learning–Assisted Gene Risk Score for Calories-to-Satiation to Predict Weight Loss After Sleeve Gastrectomy: 10-Year Experience," is the first to demonstrate that MyPhenome (搜索) can predict durable, long-term weight loss outcomes following sleeve gastrectomy, drawing on data from thousands of patients spanning a decade.
Patients identified as Hungry Brain lost an average of 29.4% of total body weight compared to 26.6% in the Hungry Gut group (p=0.04), with the divergence widening over time. At four years, the gap grew to 22.7% versus 17.0% (p=0.002), and remained statistically significant at eight years (20.9% vs. 14.3%; p=0.02). Furthermore, 70% of Hungry Brain patients achieved at least 20% total body weight loss at two years, compared to 52% of Hungry Gut patients (p=0.009), a difference that persisted at four and six years.
Biological Heterogeneity and Tirzepatide Response
The second study, "Obesity (搜索) Sub-Phenotype with Reduced GLP-1 (搜索) and Fast Gastric Emptying is Associated with Weight Loss Response to Tirzepatide," explored how underlying physiology influences treatment response to the dual GIP (搜索)/GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide. Researchers found that patients with a distinct profile—characterized by faster gastric emptying and lower natural GLP-1 levels—achieved 21.5% total body weight loss at six months, nearly double the weight loss seen in patients with more typical GLP-1 levels and gastric emptying rates, who achieved approximately 10–12% (p=0.0001).
"Every patient who struggles with obesity (搜索) deserves to know why and what will actually work for them," said Andres Acosta, MD, PhD. "These findings move us closer to that reality, showing that when we understand the biology driving a patient's obesity, we can match them to treatments that deliver real, lasting results."
Direct Patient Access Launched
In parallel with the DDW presentations, Phenomix Sciences (搜索) has launched direct patient access to the MyPhenome (搜索) test through its website, supported by its physician network. This expansion addresses a significant clinical gap: more than 30 million American adults are taking GLP-1 (搜索) medications, yet up to 30% experience disappointing to little weight loss. For many, this means months of frustration, significant out-of-pocket costs, and delayed progress before discovering that an alternative treatment approach may have been a better fit.
"GLP-1s have transformed obesity (搜索) treatment, but they're not the only option, nor are they the right option for every patient," said Mark Bagnall, CEO of Phenomix Sciences (搜索). "We know that first generation drugs, like phentermine-topiramate or naltrexone-bupropion (搜索), can be equally effective when matched to patients based on their biology."
The test process involves completing an online questionnaire, making a one-time payment, collecting a cheek swab sample at home, and receiving a personalized report within two to three weeks. Patients then share results with their healthcare provider to develop a customized treatment plan encompassing lifestyle, diet, medication, or procedure-based approaches.
Building the Evidence Base
These studies build on more than a decade of research. A landmark study published in Cell Metabolism further validated MyPhenome (搜索)'s ability to predict weight loss response to two of the most commonly prescribed anti-obesity (搜索) medication classes—GLP-1 (搜索) receptor agonists and phentermine/topiramate (搜索)—based on a patient's unique biology. Previous research has also shown that phenotype-guided obesity treatments are twice as effective as traditional approaches.
"The breadth of data coming out of DDW this year reflects how far precision obesity (搜索) medicine has come," Bagnall added. "Whether we're talking about personalizing drug selection or predicting who will maintain meaningful weight loss after surgery for years, the MyPhenome (搜索) test is delivering the kind of insights that change clinical decisions."
Since its commercial launch in 2024, MyPhenome (搜索) has been adopted by hundreds of clinics nationwide, with thousands of tests administered. Backed by a foundational study of approximately 1,000 patients and an AI-powered platform capable of scoring more than 20,000 genes, the test translates decades of Mayo Clinic research into personalized obesity (搜索) treatment guidance.