Understanding biomarkers: From diagnosis to prevention

When you’re managing your weight and taking steps to improve your health, success isn’t just about what the scales say. Real progress is about feeling better in your body and knowing that you’re actively improving your long-term health, inside and out.

This is where biomarkers come in — they’re your body’s way of showing that what you’re doing is actually working.

Biomarkers are objective, scientific measurements that tell your body’s unique story. These essential indicators help move your health journey forward; you won’t just be reacting to existing problems — you’ll be proactively preventing others and planning for a longer, healthier life.

Complex medical terminology can be a little overwhelming, so we’re going to break down the science of these vital indicators, step-by-step, and show you how they can help you make more informed decisions about your health.

What is a biomarker?

The word biomarker might sound clinical, but the biomarker definition is actually quite straightforward — and incredibly useful for understanding your health.

Biomarkers are scientifically defined as “a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacological responses to therapeutic intervention” [1]. We’ll admit, it’s a bit of a mouthful.

To put it more simply, a biomarker (also known as a biological marker) is a precise, measurable signal in your body — like a specific protein, a gene, or a reading like your blood pressure — that tells your clinician about your current health. This broad biomarker's meaning makes it an essential tool in personalised medicine.

Think of biomarkers as your body’s way of communicating what’s happening beneath the surface, giving you and your care team concrete information to work with.

What are the four types of biomarkers?

Because the human body is wonderfully complex, you can measure biomarkers in many ways — from tiny molecules inside your cells to simple physical measurements like blood pressure. This variety means your clinicians can see a detailed picture of your internal health just by looking at several biomarkers.

There are four main types of biomarkers [2]:

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In practice, your clinician will usually look at a range of results together — taking blood samples to test things like blood sugar, cholesterol levels and triglycerides, blood pressure and body measurements — rather than focusing on just one in isolation.

What are biomarkers used for?

Biomarkers can help to flag future risk factors [4].

There are five important roles biomarkers play in helping to understand and manage your health:

1. Antecedent biomarkers are used to identify if you're at a higher risk of developing a particular disease. This makes them essential for proactive and preventative health planning and can help determine if you're at higher risk for certain conditions [4].
2. Screening biomarkers are used to detect subclinical disease, conditions that are present but haven’t yet shown outward symptoms, helping with early detection [4].
3. Diagnostic biomarkers are used to recognise and confirm established disease [4].
4. Staging biomarkers are used to categorise the severity and progression of a disease, and disease progression [4].
5. Prognostic biomarkers are used to predict the future course of a disease, while monitoring biomarkers (also called predictive biomarkers) are used to evaluate how effective a patient's treatment is and assess treatment response [4].

How biomarkers are used in metabolic health

Because metabolic health focuses on how efficiently your body uses energy — and metabolism issues often lead to chronic conditions — these biomarkers are particularly important for women living with obesity who are focusing on preventative care.

To get a clear picture of your metabolic health at a cellular level, clinicians typically look at these five markers [5]:

1. Blood glucose levels: This measures the amount of sugar in your blood. How well your body manages blood sugar is a key indicator of your overall metabolic health [5].
2. Triglycerides: These are fats in your bloodstream. When levels are high, they can signal increased risk for heart and metabolic health issues [5].
3. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol: This is your “good” cholesterol. Higher levels help to protect you from unhealthy forms of cholesterol, promoting better heart health. You can boost HDL by eating healthy fats (such as nuts and seeds) and combining aerobic exercise with strength training [5].
4. Blood pressure: Keeping this in a healthy range is one of the most important things you can do for your heart. Your clinician may closely monitor this key biomarker [5].
5. Waist circumference: This simple measurement tells your clinician about visceral fat — the fat that surrounds your internal organs and poses the greatest metabolic risk [5].

How are biomarkers discovered or measured?

Your clinician has several ways to check your biomarkers in clinical practice, depending on what they’re looking for:

• Blood tests: This is the most common method. A simple blood test can measure everything from blood glucose to inflammatory markers and how well your liver and kidneys are functioning [6].
• Physical measurements: Some biomarkers are even simpler to check. Your clinician can measure things like blood pressure and waist circumference right there in the consultation room [2].
• Imaging scans: For other biomarkers, like bone density, you might need an MRI scan or X-ray [3].

Researchers are continuing to identify new biomarkers that can provide insights into various medical conditions.

How biomarkers are used in preventative health

Here is the exciting part: biomarkers can help inform your treatment decisions and plan for a longer, healthier future.

Scientists are now looking at something called geroscience, which focuses on targeting the biology of ageing to prevent multiple age-related diseases at once [10]. This area of drug development research is exploring how interventions can extend healthspan. Instead of just predicting disease, biomarkers can help predict your “healthspan” — meaning how long you’ll live in good health.

Using biomarkers to understand your biological age

They say age is just a number, but what about your biological age? Clinical research is developing biomarkers that can show how your body is ageing compared to the date on your birth certificate [10].

They look at things like:

• Markers of cellular wear: Highly technical measurements like telomere length can be markers of cellular ageing, and are associated with some age-related diseases [6].
• Organ function tests: Routine measurements of key organs, such as kidney and liver function, which provide an insight into your overall health [6].
• Inflammation markers: Chronic inflammation markers are strongly linked to how long we live [11]. Higher levels of these markers have been connected to shorter lifespans [11]. It’s important to note that these markers may behave differently in women than in men, so it’s essential to have your biomarker data interpreted by a specialist who understands your specific needs [12].

Addressing metabolic health and reducing inflammation is a long-term investment in your health.

Limitations: Why biomarkers aren’t the whole story

Biomarkers are incredibly valuable, but they can’t do everything. They’re helpful tools, not crystal balls (unfortunately!).

The reality is:

• They can’t perfectly predict weight loss success. Researchers are still searching for a set of specific biomarkers that can reliably predict how well someone will do with weight loss [13]. Most studies only look at a few markers at a time, and researchers haven’t found the right combination of reliable biomarkers just yet [13].
• Biology isn’t everything. Your biological markers are important, but behavioural factors — such as eating habits, physical activity, sleep, and stress management — often play an even bigger role in long-term weight-loss success [13].

This is exactly why a one-size-fits-all approach to health doesn’t work.

How clinical research shapes your treatment journey

Biomarkers give us an objective way to assess clinical outcomes and see the real benefits of managing our metabolic health. Evidence shows that making improvements to your health is associated with better heart health and a longer, healthier life [11].

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