Isovalerylglycine as biomarker for the predispositon for weight gain and obesity

A method of treating a subject at risk for high fat diet induced weight gain, the method comprising:

• obtaining a urine sample from a subject provided with a high fat diet,
• determining the level of isovalerylglycine in the urine sample using ′H-NMR spectroscopy,
• comparing the subject's isovalerylglycine level to a predetermined reference value, by mapping of a urinary excretion pattern of the isovalerylglycine, and
• providing a subject determined to be at risk for high fat diet induced weight gain with diet and lifestyle treatment options, so as to thereby treat the subject,
• wherein the predetermined reference value is based on an average isovalerylglycine level in urine in a control population,
• an increased isovalerylglycine level in the sample compared to the predetermined reference value indicates an increased likelihood to resist high fat diet induced weight gain, and
• the increased isovalerylglycine level is determined relative to a cut-off value of the average isovalerylglycine level in the control population.

A method of diagnosing and treating a subject at risk for high fat diet induced weight gain, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining a urine sample from the subject;
• (b) measuring the amount of isovalerylglycine present in the urine sample using 1H-NMR spectroscopy;
• (c) diagnosing the subject as being at risk for high fat diet induced weight gain if the amount of isovalerylglycine in the urine sample is below a predetermined reference value, by mapping of a urinary excretion pattern of the isovalerylglycine;
• and
• (d) providing to the subject diagnosed in step (c) as at risk for high fat diet induced weight gain lifestyle and treatment options selected from the group consisting of diet changes, an exercise regimen, and combinations thereof.