Effect of Obesity-Linked FTO rs9939609 Variant on Physical Activity and Dietary Patterns in Physically Active Men and Women

Abstract

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) locus are associated with obesity, but lifestyle factors may modulate the obesity risk related to FTO. This study examined the physical activity and dietary patterns of 528 physically active white men and women (mean (SD): 34.9 (9.5) years, 26.6 (4.3) kg·m−2) carrying different risk variants of FTO SNP rs9939609. Sex, age, and anthropometric measurements (stature, body mass, and waist circumference) were self-reported using an online questionnaire, and body mass index and waist-to-height ratio were calculated. Physical activity and eating behaviour were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), respectively. Body mass, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio were not significantly different between individuals expressing different FTO rs9939609 risk variants (all P ≥ 0.66). The cohort was physically active (4516 (3043) total MET min·week−1), although homozygous risk allele carriers (AA) displayed higher TFEQ cognitive restraint compared with nonrisk allele carriers (TT) (ES = 0.33 and P=0.03). In conclusion, obesity-related parameters were not different in physically active individuals expressing different risk variants of FTO rs9939609, although homozygous risk allele carriers exhibited higher cognitive restraint.

The Effect Sizes of PPARγ rs1801282, FTO rs9939609, and MC4R rs2229616 Variants on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Risk among the Western Saudi Population: A Cross-Sectional Prospective Study

“…In an attempt to understand the mechanism of FTO obesity modulation, it was suggested that an individual's behavior toward food consumption is primarily regulated by this SNP. In fact, it suggests that A/A homozygous is more likely to be responsible for the reduction of personal ability to perform regular activity [43]. The A allele was reported as the risk allele [12], which is consistent with the present study.…”

A Comprehensive Genome-Wide and Phenome-Wide Examination of BMI and Obesity in a Northern Nevadan Cohort

“…The genomic inflation coefficient (lambda) for the obesity cohort was computed as 1.05. We also include eight SNPs found slightly above the significance threshold in the FTO gene that are reported in several studies as obesity-related (Ehrlich and Friedenberg 2016;West et al 2018). In comparison to the two quantitative-trait BMI GWASs, this study identified several more associations around the NEGR1 gene on chromosome 1.…”

The significance of the FTO gene on weight gain and body composition in young Swedish women with severe anorexia nervosa: a three-year follow-up study

“…Hakanen et al [25] demonstrated no association between FTO genotype and energy intake or physical activity. However, West et al [10] reported that individuals with the A allele reported higher total and vigorous physical activity levels compared with TT individuals. In contrast, at the three-year follow-up, we found that TT individuals reported a higher vigorous physical activity level than both AA and TA individuals, and a higher total physical activity level than the TA individuals.…”

“…Celis-Morales et al [9] demonstrated that physical activity attenuates the effect of FTO on BMI and waist circumference. West et al [10] described that individuals with the A allele had higher physical activity levels than individuals with TT alleles despite similar adiposity-related measures.…”