The Stanford University study, which looked at how well people with different genes fared on different weight-loss diets, showed those who took the best diet suited to their genes lost three times more weight than others.
For their study, the researchers analysed data from 101 white Caucasian women who provided DNA from a swab of their cheek cells, the BBC reported.
The women were divided into three groups and were advised to have different diets. The diets were very low carbohydrate, low carbohydrate with high protein, and low or very low fat.
A year after, the researchers found that those on a diet which matched their genotype lost 2-3 times more weight over 12 months compared with those on the “wrong” diet.
Presenting their study at an American Heart Association conference, researchers, however, said their findings were preliminary and need much more confirmation before they could be used commercially.
Professor Christine Williams, from the University of Reading, said: “This is a very intriguing study – though very small.”