136: The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke - Episode 136136: The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke - Episode 136
UK Health Radio Podcast
Mike Dilke chats with Stuart Grice from Fitness Genes about how genetics impact health, fitness, and lifestyle choices. Discover how genetic testing can guide personalised health strategies.
36:47•23 Sept 2025
Genes, Health, and a Spit Kit: A Chat with Stuart Grice
Episode Overview
- Genetics play a significant role in health and lifestyle choices.
- Fitness Genes offers non-invasive genetic testing through a spit kit.
- Understanding genetic traits helps in making informed health decisions.
- The focus is shifting from treating diseases to preventing them.
- Collaboration with practitioners helps interpret genetic data.
“Yes, there is a huge component of genetics to obesity, but it's an interaction between our current environment and our evolved genetics.”
Curious about how your genes might influence your health and lifestyle? This episode of The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke features a fascinating conversation with Stuart Grice, one of the founding members of Fitness Genes. Grice, who spent a decade in academia researching neuromuscular disease, discusses how our genetic makeup can affect everything from our athletic abilities to our eating habits.
He highlights the significant role genetics play in obesity, noting that it's not just about genes but also how they interact with our environment, which is often filled with processed foods. Fitness Genes offers a service that analyses between 600,000 and 700,000 genetic variants to provide insights into your health, sporting potential, and even disease risks. But don't worry, you won't have to prick your finger; a simple spit kit does the trick.
Grice explains that understanding these genetic traits can help people make informed decisions about their health, whether it's about exercise, nutrition, or managing risks like sarcopenia—muscle loss as we age. While the information can be overwhelming, Fitness Genes has developed a platform to work with practitioners like personal trainers and nutritionists to help you make sense of it all. The aim is to shift the focus from treating diseases to preventing them.
So, if you've ever wondered how your genes might be influencing your life choices and health, this episode offers a wealth of information and some light-hearted moments to make you smile. As you ponder the impact of genetics on your life, consider what small changes you could make today for a healthier tomorrow.

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