As parents, we want nothing more than to ensure our children grow up healthy, happy, and thriving — even as we sift through potential landmines such as conflicting health care advice.
While ensuring the health and wellbeing of our children is naturally our top priority, the key question lies in determining how we can do so as effectively as possible.
Beyond the standard vaccines, booster shots, and regular paediatric check-ups, parents can delve even deeper by focusing on the foundations of health: their child’s genes.
Genetic testing offers valuable insights, empowering parents to take on a more proactive approach that may help prevent major health issues before they arise.
In Malaysia specifically, key health concerns such as rising obesity rates, stunted growth, and childhood diabetes are taking centre stage. The prevalence of overweight obesity and abdominal obesity amongst Malaysians has increased by almost 10 per cent from 2011 to 2023.
At the same time, data from the latest edition of the National Health and Morbidity Survey for Adolescents reveal that at least one in three teenagers are overweight or obese.
Genetic testing has evolved beyond a tool for diagnosing serious conditions; it has become a transformative approach to everyday health management, reflecting a significant shift in how we prioritise children’s health, and enabling parents to make informed decisions about diet, exercise, and general wellbeing.
Imagine a simple test that unlocks a wealth of personalised insights; from knowing if your child is predisposed to a slower metabolism — a common trait in conditions like childhood obesity — to identifying sensitivities to specific foods.
Instead of merely reacting to situations as they arise, or relying on generic, one-size-fits-all health advice, parents can now proactively address any potential health issues before they develop.
Genetic testing offers parents a unique opportunity to take early action — whether it is making dietary changes to combat obesity or detecting rare genetic conditions that affect growth and development.
Essentially, rather than working off “what ifs” and “maybes”, parents can instead work with a unique plan, a personalised health roadmap tailored to meet your child’s DNA as effectively as possible.
Beyond identifying risks, genetic testing also unlocks insights into how your child’s body on a cognitive and emotional level.
For instance, parents can discover whether their child excels in strength-based activities or endurance sports, and gain a better understanding of their child’s learning style, helping them shape their child’s educational journey from the outset, setting them up for academic success by tailoring their learning environment to their natural abilities.
Armed with this information thanks to path-breaking entities such as myPreciseDNA, parents can adjust their approach to education and physical development, helping their children not just survive, but truly thrive.
This goes beyond short-term child health care and management. For parents who want to move beyond the uncertainty of trial-and-error approaches to health, genetic testing offers more than just answers.
With its streamlined approach, myPreciseDNA goes multiple steps ahead, offering parents access to science-backed genetic insights, opening the door to a new realm of proactive, tailored care that helps unlock each child’s full potential.
Ultimately, this sets them up for a healthy, happy future — the best gift any child could ask for, and any parent could hope to give.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Ova.
