What is FitnessGenes?

FitnessGenes is a health, fitness and longevity-focused DNA testing company. Using your DNA, we provide insight into areas such as exercise response, nutrition, and broader health markers. Our mission is to transform your genetic data into a precise, actionable roadmap for personalised wellness.

Founded in 2013 in Bicester, FitnessGenes was born from a vision of proactive health. Our CEO, Dr Samantha Decombel, established the company following a personal realisation of the profound impact that long-term health management has on our quality of life.

FitnessGenes is built on the principle that there is no “universal” diet or exercise prescription; rather, your body’s response to any intervention is dictated, at least in part, by your distinct genetic makeup. Genetic data is used as one component to help explain these differences and guide more tailored approaches to health and fitness.

Health and fitness advice is widely available, but much of it is generalised. While broad recommendations can be effective, they do not account for subtle variations in human physiology. DNA testing offers an additional layer of information by identifying genetic variations that may influence how the body responds to different types of exercise, nutrients, and lifestyle factors.
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What is DNA testing for health and fitness?

DNA contains the genetic information that contributes to individual differences, determining physical characteristics such as your eye and hair colour, as well as playing a part in predispositions to certain diseases and health conditions, such as your risk of high cholesterol and your risk of injury. 

Our DNA test analyses certain genetic variants and organises the results into 15 health and fitness categories, including:

• Weight Loss
• Muscle Building
• Endurance
• Appetite Control
• Heart Health
• Sleep Health
• Brain Health
• Blood Sugar Levels
• Vitamin Requirements
• Mineral Requirements
• Inflammation
• Hormone Health
• Biological Ageing 
• Gut Health
• Women’s Health

Within these categories are a range of reports which provide an interpretation of your genetic markers and supply you with actionable insights. Our recommendations include exercise, nutritional, behavioural, supplemental and lifestyle changes you can make.
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Who can benefit from a FitnessGenes DNA test and why?

‍‍Genetic insights can be beneficial to a range of individuals. For novices, a DNA test can help to provide a starting point, highlighting areas to prioritise. Those who train more regularly may benefit when progress has plateaued, providing knowledge of areas they may not have considered before.

More generally, individuals interested in long-term health may use DNA-based insights to better understand factors such as sleep, cardiovascular health, or metabolic responses, supporting a more preventative approach.
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How do you carry out the test and view the results?

There are two ways to receive your DNA results and personalised recommendations with FitnessGenes.

If you have never had your DNA tested before, you can order a testing kit to be delivered to you. Alternatively, if you have already taken a DNA test with another provider such as Ancestry or 23andMe, you can simply upload your existing data, allowing you to access your results immediately.

If ordering a test kit, this will be dispatched as soon as possible and should arrive within 5 days. The kit includes instructions on how to register and how to take the non-invasive saliva sample.

After collecting and registering a sample at my.fitnessgenes.com, it is returned to us and sent to the lab for processing. Samples are then analysed, and results are made available within two to four weeks.

When the results are ready, users are notified by email and can access results in the member’s area, where personalised insights, recommendations, and reports are presented.
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How does FitnessGenes compare to other DNA testing companies?

Genetics is a continually evolving field with new research and data being published regularly. Our knowledge of how DNA and different gene variants affect our physiology is therefore rapidly expanding.

The FitnessGenes research team are constantly scouring medical and genetic databases to ensure we are reporting on the most up-to-date research.

A key feature of the platform is our innovative TrueTrait™ model, which combines your genetic data with lifestyle data to calculate your personalised recommendations. 

TrueTrait™ is also utilised in our AI-driven longevity platform, BASIL (Biological Assessment System for Improved Longevity). BASIL uses your DNA and other health data to objectively rank and organise your health-related data, highlighting the daily actions that will have the greatest impact on your long-term health.

FitnessGenes holds a granted patent (EP-3488369-A1) for our system of determining an optimal wellness regime. This patent covers our unique process of integrating genetic markers with physiological and lifestyle data to generate high-precision exercise and nutritional protocols.

Our mission is supported by visionaries across the health and fitness spectrum. We are backed by David Lloyd, founder of David Lloyd Leisure, and have received significant support from Dr. Rupy Aujla (The Doctor’s Kitchen), who shares our vision of using evidence-based nutrition to transform long-term health outcomes. We have also worked with a number of multinational companies, including Walgreens Boots Alliance.
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The FitnessGenes Team

‍Our platform is not just built on data; it is built on decades of peer-reviewed expertise. The FitnessGenes science team is led by Dr. Stuart Grice, our Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder.

Dr. Grice received his PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Oxford. Before founding FitnessGenes, he served as a post-doctoral researcher within Oxford’s Functional Genomics Department, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of genetic expression. He is the primary architect of the BASIL longevity platform and holds several patents related to the integration of genetic and lifestyle data for health prediction.

Our in-house research department includes specialists with MBBS (Medical), PhD (Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Bioengineering), and MSc (Nutrition/Exercise Physiology) qualifications. This team doesn't just report genetic data; they translate complex genomic associations into the practical, evidence-based protocols that appear in your members' area.
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FAQ's

1. How accurate is the process of analysing your DNA?

The process of identifying your genetic variants used by FitnessGenes is extremely accurate. The laboratory where your sample is analysed is highly accredited, holding ISO 17025 standard for laboratory testing and calibration services and ISO 9001 standard for business processes. It is also fully compliant with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).

The laboratory is one of Europe’s largest high-throughput genomics facilities. It has analysed 100,000s of DNA samples and has been used in numerous large-scale genetic and medical research projects.

There are multiple quality control checkpoints during the analysis. If a sample fails at any one of these checkpoints, the process is halted and restarted. Results are only delivered when at least 95% of the sample’s genetic variants have been reliably identified.
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2. Will your results tell you something you don’t want to know, such as your risk of certain diseases?

Our specialism lies in the interpretation of general health and fitness DNA, and not disease susceptibility, so generally our reports are not based on disease-related genes. However, we do analyse your DNA using a genome sequencing panel that includes these genes.

Occasionally, we will provide results reporting on these genes; however, we will provide you with the option as to whether you would like to receive these results.
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3. Do your results change? Do you need to take multiple DNA tests?

Your DNA does not change, so you will only need to take the DNA test once. Occasionally, reports will be updated with us where new research has taken place, allowing us to update recommendations to ensure the advice we provide is relevant and accurate.
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4. How credible are the results you receive? 

We pride ourselves on our scientific credibility. It's why prestigious institutions, including the University of Oxford and Loughborough University, have chosen to collaborate with us.

We only analyse gene variants that demonstrate a significant, robust association with a health or fitness outcome.

Our team only consult high-quality, peer-reviewed, published research when building your DNA reports and recommending your optimal fitness and health strategies. We'll never tell you to do whatever is popular at the time; only what we know will work for you.