A Common Variant in the FTO Gene Is Associated with Body Mass Index and Predisposes to Childhood and Adult Obesity
Centre for Human Genetics · Churchill Hospital · +10 more institutions
Abstract
Obesity is a serious international health problem that increases the risk of several common diseases. The genetic factors predisposing to obesity are poorly understood. A genome-wide search for type 2 diabetes-susceptibility genes identified a common variant in the FTO (fat mass and obesity associated) gene that predisposes to diabetes through an effect on body mass index (BMI). An additive association of the variant with BMI was replicated in 13 cohorts with 38,759 participants. The 16% of adults who are homozygous for the risk allele weighed about 3 kilograms more and had 1.67-fold increased odds of obesity when compared with those not inheriting a risk allele. This association was observed from age 7 years…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 194.17
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 14
Authors
41- TMTimothy M. FraylingCorresponding
Centre for Human Genetics, Churchill Hospital, University of Bristol, University of Oxford, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
- NJNicholas J. TimpsonCorresponding
Centre for Human Genetics, Churchill Hospital, University of Bristol, University of Oxford, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
- MNMichael N. WeedonCorresponding
Centre for Human Genetics, Churchill Hospital, University of Bristol, University of Oxford, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
- EZEleftheria ZegginiCorresponding
Centre for Human Genetics, Churchill Hospital, University of Bristol, University of Oxford, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
- RMRachel M. Freathy
Centre for Human Genetics, Churchill Hospital, University of Bristol, University of Oxford, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
Topics & keywords
- Obesity
- Body mass index
- FTO gene
- Odds ratio
- Allele
- Childhood obesity
- Diabetes mellitus
- Medicine
- Good health and well-being