Physical fitness attenuates the genetic predisposition to obesity in children and adolescents

Abstract

Obesity is an important risk factor associated with non‐communicable cardiometabolic diseases. Previous studies have indicated that children and adolescents with a predisposed genetic risk for obesity could benefit from an active lifestyle, but there are no studies investigating whether physical fitness moderates the association of genetics and obesity. The aim of this study was to verify the moderating role of physical fitness in the relationship between genetic risk score (GRS) and body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents. This cross‐sectional study was carried out with 1471 children and adolescents, aged between 6 and 17 years from Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. Weight and height were assessed to determine BMI. Physical fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF], lower limb strength [LLS], upper limb strength, and abdominal strength) were evaluated. The GRS was based on previously associated obesity single‐nucleotide polymorphism rs9939609 (FTO), rs6548238 (TMEM18), and rs16835198 (FNDC5). Moderation analyses were tested using linear regression models, and the interactions were represented by physical fitness components X GRS (categorical variable). All analyses were adjusted for skin color/ethnicity, sex, and sexual maturation. Significant interactions for CRF (P = 0.041), LLS (P = 0.041), and abdominal strength (P = 0.046) X 5 and 6 risk alleles with BMI were found only in adolescents. In addition, there was evidence that fitness components attenuated the high genetic predisposition to high BMI. Physical fitness components are moderators in the relationship between GRS and BMI in adolescents. These findings highlight the need for interventions targeting to improve this aspect, which is an important health indicator in all ages.

Physical Fitness Plays a Crucial Mediator Role in Relationships Among Personal, Social, and Lifestyle Factors With Adolescents' Cognitive Performance in a Structural Equation Model. The Cogni-Action Project

“…Cytokines and hormones (i.e., CRP, IL-6, Leptin) play a relevant role in brain functioning; hence paediatric obesity would affect brain structure and function ( 58 , 60 ). However, it has been shown that physical fitness counteracts the effect of obesity meditating on various physiopathological processes, for instance, inducing an anti-inflammatory mechanism at the organic level ( 61 ), and also attenuating the genetic predisposition to obesity in children and adolescents ( 62 , 63 ). A study in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity showed that CRF and S-AF were associated with several cortical and subcortical brain structures, even after controlling for BMI and other covariates ( 62 ).…”

LPL, FNDC5 and PPARγ gene polymorphisms related to body composition parameters and lipid metabolic profile in adolescents from Southern Italy

“…The quantity and quality of DNA were assessed by using the NanoDrop spectrophotometer (NanoDrop ™ One/OneC Microvolume UV-Vis Spectrophotometer; Thermo Fisher Scientific) and tested on Perrone et al Journal of Translational Medicine (2022) 20:107 agarose gel. NGS analysis was carried out using a targeted panel including genes and polymorphisms (see Additional file 1: Table S1), [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] related to diet, lifestyle, and physical performance/sports, on the Ion Gene Studio S5 platform (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The genes and specific SNPs were chosen for sequencing based on their significant biological roles in the lipid metabolic pathways and/or correlation with bioclinical parameters.…”

Association between Physical Fitness and Low Back Pain: The Pepe Cross-Sectional Study

“…While it is true that there are many studies analyzing fitness associated with health [ 24 , 39 , 40 , 41 ], few studies have investigated the association between the fitness level and the LBP [ 42 , 43 , 44 ], especially in child populations [ 45 , 46 , 47 ]. In the present study, higher levels of PA were associated with the absence of LBP.…”