Genetic risk clustering increases children's body weight at 2 years of age - the STEPS Study

Pediatr Obes. 2016 Dec;11(6):459-467. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12087. Epub 2015 Dec 11.

Abstract

Background: Genetic determinants have an impact on adult weight but the association between genetic determinants and weight at young age is still poorly understood.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the association between genetic risk scores and early growth from birth to 2 years of age.

Methods: Genetic risk scores of 83 adiposity-related or obesity-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (genetic risk score [GRS]83) were calculated for 1278 children. Specific phenotype score for 16 weight-related SNPs (weightGRS) was calculated. Anthropometric data were obtained at birth, 13 months and 2 years of age.

Results: The GRS83 was associated with weight at 13 months (β = 0.080, P = 0.015) and 2 years (β = 0.080, P = 0.017) of age and with weight gain from birth to 13 months (β = 0.069, P = 0.036) and to 2 years of age (β = 0.074, P = 0.028). At 2 years of age, the GRS83 was also associated with weight for height (β = 0.065, P = 0.046), weight-for-height standard deviation score (SDS) (β = 0.074, P = 0.022) and body mass index SDS (β = 0.068, P = 0.045). WeightGRS was associated with higher body weight at 13 months (β = 0.081, P = 0.014) and 2 years of age (β = 0.086, P = 0.011). The genetic effect on weight varied from 0.69 to 1.89 kg at 2 years of age according to number of risk alleles. Children with high genetic risk for adiposity were heavier than children with low genetic risk at 2 years of age (12.8 vs. 13.4 kg, P = 0.017).

Conclusion: The GRS 83 revealed increased genetic risk for higher weight in children already at 13 months and 2 years of age, which may result in increased obesity risk later in life.

Keywords: Body weight; STEPS Study; obesity; single nucleotide polymorphism.

MeSH terms

  • Adiposity / genetics*
  • Alleles
  • Anthropometry
  • Body Weight / genetics*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Obesity / genetics*
  • Overweight / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Risk Factors
  • Weight Gain / genetics