Genetic risk score for common obesity and anthropometry in Spanish schoolchildren

Abstract

Introduction: Common or non-syndromic obesity is a complex polygenic trait conditioned by biallelic or single-base polymorphisms called SNPs (Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms) that present an additive effect and act synergistically. Most genotype-obese phenotype association studies include body mass index (BMI) or waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), and very few introduce a broad anthropometric profile. Objective: To verify whether a genetic risk score (GRS) developed from 10 SNPs is associated with the obesity phenotype assessed from anthropometric measures indicative of excess weight, adiposity and fat distribution. Material and methods: A series of 438 Spanish schoolchildren (6 to 16 years old) were evaluated anthropometrically (weight, height, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, BMI, WtHR, body fat percentage [%BF]). Ten SNPs were genotyped from saliva samples, generating a GRS for obesity, establishing genotype-phenotype association. Results: Schoolchildren categorised as obese by BMI, ICT and %BF had higher GRS than their non-obese peers. The prevalence of overweight and adiposity was higher in subjects with a GRS above the median. Similarly, between 11 and 16 years of age, all anthropometric variables presented higher averages. Conclusions: GRS estimated from the 10 SNPs can be a diagnostic tool for the potential risk of obesity in Spanish schoolchildren and could be useful from the preventive perspective.