Pathway Fit Test Results Include Exercise Strengths And Weaknesses, Eating Behavior
SAN DIEGO – A new fitness test created by a local company reveals more insight into your health than ever before.
Carmel Valley resident Michael Casler said he knew he had to get in shape.
“For me, my blood pressure started to get to a point where I needed to do something about it and really, it was driven by my weight,” he said.
Casler tried several diets but found he could not keep the results. He said a new test, the Pathway Fit, helped get him on track.
Here is how the test works: participants give a saliva sample in a tube. The sample goes to a lab and then 80 to 100 genes are examined. DNA is extracted. The test results can tell participants everything from exercise strengths and weaknesses, vitamins that they are lacking and eating behavior.
“The diet type for me is a Mediterranean diet,” said Casler. “As a business man, I know you can manage what you can’t measure and this report really helped me to identify specifically what I needed to work on.”
Olympic athletes have also used the test. Chula Vista resident and two-time Olympian high jumper Jamie Nieto recently took the Pathway Fit test, which was developed by Sorrento Valley-based Pathway Genomics.
“We’ve had a number of athletes take our tests,” said Dr. Michael Nova, who is with Pathway Genomics. “They want to learn these kinds of things and how to tailor their training programs better.”
Doctors remind those looking for better health that the Pathway Fit test is only the first step of many.
“So much of what chronic disease is about is behavior change and if we’re going to induce behavior change, you have to give all the information you possibly can to the patient,” said Dr. Samir Damani.
Casler has lost more than 30 pounds in the past four and a half months. He said that is thanks to the test results but more importantly, the hard work after he got them.
“Dr. Damani said I added about 10 years to my life,” he said. “I hope they’re good years.”
The test costs about $400 and is available only through a physician.
