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23andMe turns research into useful genetic insights, now offering a new GLP-1 report and interactive tool through 23andMe Total Health
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PALO ALTO, Calif., April 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 23andMe Research Institute, a nonprofit medical research organization, announced the publication of a study that identifies genetic predictors for GLP-1 weight loss efficacy and side effects.
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GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, have transformed the clinical management of weight and obesity. However, patients experience substantial variability in both weight loss efficacy and the incidence of side effects. Some individuals lose less than 5% of their body weight, whereas others lose more than 20%. Some individuals experience side effects such as nausea and vomiting, whereas others do not.
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Published today in Nature, the study investigates the genetic basis of this variability. Researchers at 23andMe conducted a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) utilizing data from 27,885 individuals who have used GLP-1 medications. The findings provide direct evidence that variation in the genes targeted by GLP-1 medications contribute to why people respond differently to GLP-1 therapies.
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“The study demonstrates the incredible power of our crowdsourced research community to advance scientific understanding of human genetic variation,” said Adam Auton, Vice President of Human Genetics at 23andMe Research Institute and an author of the study.
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By analyzing both genetic markers and self-reported patient experiences, the research team uncovered several key insights into how human genetics influence the effects of these widely prescribed medications:
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- Weight Loss: Researchers identified a missense variant, a small change in a gene sequence that alters the protein it makes, in the GLP1R gene that is significantly associated with increased efficacy of GLP-1 medications.
- Nausea and Vomiting: The study identified associations linking variation in both the GLP1R and GIPR genes to GLP-1 medication-related nausea or vomiting.
- Drug-Specific Effects: The association between the GIPR genetic variation and nausea and vomiting side effects is restricted specifically to individuals using tirzepatide (Mounjaro© and Zepbound©), and not semaglutide (Ozempic© and Wegovy©).
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These discoveries lay the foundation for more personalized approaches in the treatment of obesity, suggesting a future where genetic testing could help guide treatment strategies.
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The 23andMe research team successfully incorporated these findings into a broader model of GLP-1 medication response that includes demographic and clinical factors, demonstrating the ability to stratify patients by both weight loss efficacy and risk for certain side effects.
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The organization has released a new report, called GLP-1 Medications Weight Loss and Nausea, to members of its Total Health service. The new report provides insight into weight loss and nausea risk when taking a GLP-1 medication based on these new findings from 23andMe research. This new report includes an interactive tool that allows individuals to explore how genetics and other factors like age and certain medical conditions may impact weight loss and nausea on GLP-1 medications. Together, these factors can predict significant variability in an individual’s likelihood of weight loss or side effects. Among 23andMe research participants, weight loss estimates vary between 6% and 20% of starting weight, and the chances of nausea or vomiting range from 5% to 78%, depending on genetics and other factors.
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