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(KDKA) Differences in DNA can have an impact on why some people can eat certain foods and not seem to gain weight, while others can pack on the pounds.

But a new at-home kit - by Interleukin Genetics - can test your DNA and determine what kind of diet and exercise would work better for your body.

Three local people - all looking to lose weight – decided to test it out.

Louis Denome loves to cook for his fellow volunteers at the Pulaski Township Fire Hall in Lawrence County. While Lindsay Bomblaski gets a workout by biking outside her Squirrel Hill home. And Danette O'Connell, of Bethel Park, organizes her nutrition information in her kitchen cabinets.

Each has tried many different diets with no long term success. Bomblaski wants to lose 20 pounds, O'Connell would like to take off 30 and Denome wants to shed 40 pounds.

The kits come with two cheek swabs to capture DNA, and then they are mailed to a lab outside of Boston.

One expert in Boston says, "the key with this test is that out of the literally hundreds of genes that have been studied relative to weight gain and obesity, this test involves four well-documented genes where the science is very, very strong."

The genes show how the body's enzymes respond to carbohydrates, fats and exercise.

With that information, Interleukin will recommend one of three ways of dieting: low carb, low fat or a balance of fat and carbs.

Officials say that low-calorie and regular exercise are part of all the recommendations.

Madelyn Fernstrom, the UPMC director of nutrition and weight management, has studied the science behind the test.

"How much does my family history and my genes play in my ability to lose weight? The answer is, it plays a little part, for some people more than others… and it's important to understand it's your genes, your environment, your behavior that really has a combined effect to maintain a weight and to lose weight," said Fernstrom.

The DNA test also recommends either moderate or high intensity exercise.

"Higher intensity is always going to burn more calories," added Fernstrom. "For some people - just taking a 30 minute stroll is not going to be enough to promote weight loss and you don't need a test to tell you that.

About a week after the testing, the results came back.

Both O'Connell and Denome had the same results - a carb reducing diet and intensity exercise.

"There's good carbs, medium carbs and bad carbs," said Denome. "I'm addicted to all the bad carbs."

And O'Connell is re-evaluating what she eats.

Interleukin recommends different low-carb diets, like Atkins, South Beach or The Zone.

But O'Connell said she was disappointed that the information was pretty generic. She's still using the online tools to calculate her calorie and carb intake. Also, she's going to try to increase her exercise regimen.

"The one thing I've learned, it's that you have to exercise," she says. "It's not just walking up and down stairs or taking a walk. You have to get your heart rate going for 30 minutes a day.

Bomblaski's results were different though. Her DNA indicated a low-fat diet and moderate exercise are best.

"I could see either of these things making a lot of sense to me, but I've never done them together," she said.

Interleukin Genetics studied people on diets that matched their DNA and found they lost more weight than those on diets that did not match their DNA.

Over a year, experts said the DNA dieters lost an average of 13 pounds, compared to four pounds for the others.

The test kit is $150 and includes a phone consultation about the results and online resources to track your diet and exercise.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Inherent Health

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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