Herbalife Nutrition offers personalized nutrition programs for consumers

Herbalife Nutrition Korea General Manager Chung Young-hee promotes the company's Gene Start direct-to-consumer genetic testing service at her office in Seoul in this file photo. / Courtesy of Herbalife Nutrition Korea

By Park Jae-hyuk

Gene Start, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing service that Herbalife Nutrition Korea has provided since January, is dominating the market as it identifies Korean consumers' genetic traits that make them susceptible to disease, and advises them on healthier lifestyle choices, the company said Monday.

For example, a statistical analysis of 13,000 sets of Gene Start test samples showed 64 percent of the subjects were at risk of blood pressure-related genetic variations and only 17 percent had satisfactory blood sugar genes.

A strict diet regimen is crucial for those who suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure.

Gene Start discovered 64 percent of the subjects were genetically predisposed to blood sugar variations and 70 percent of those with abnormal blood pressure genes had unhealthy habits.

"Lifestyle change is a major factor contributing to increasing rates of obesity and diabetes among Koreans. I cannot stress the importance of diet and exercise enough," Herbalife Nutrition Korea nutrition trainer Jang Ha-na said. "If you're at risk for these diseases, limit consumption of refined carbohydrates, add portions of protein to every meal and consume more high-fiber low-sugar index foods."

Gene Start also revealed that Koreans are prone to loss of skin elasticity and pigmentation, despite the recent craze for K-beauty that has drawn global attention on Korean skincare products.

According to its analysis, only 10 percent of Korean consumers were found to have satisfactory genes for skin elasticity, while one out of three of them were at risk of pigmentation.

It also discovered that only 20.6 percent of consumers prone to skin elasticity loss and 27.4 percent of consumers at risk of pigmentation had positive nutrition and lifestyle habits.

"Good nutrition is crucial for healthy skin," Jang said. "Applying sunscreen year-round, plus sufficient intake of low-molecular collagen and antioxidants, such as vitamin C, will prevent loss of skin elasticity and pigmentation."

According to Herbalife Nutrition, the market for direct-to-consumer genetic testing services has grown rapidly in Korea, thanks to convenient and reasonably priced products that inform consumers of predisposed health risks and personalized health recommendations.

The company said it launched its own service for more accessible and affordable genetic testing.

"Following the test, which can be easily completed within the comfort of one's home using a portable test kit, consumers will receive a detailed analysis of their genetic makeup and correlating lifestyle choices, which are used to create personalized wellness programs and recommend targeted nutrition products for our members," Herbalife Nutrition Korea General Manager Chung Young-hee said. "We plan on highly utilizing genetic testing to help more consumers enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle."

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