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Weakening Genetic Ties to Obesity in Latinos
Diabetes; ePub 2017 Oct 6; Moon, Wang, et al
The central nervous system genetic risk score (GRS) interacted with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior to impact BMI and other adiposity traits in a study involving >9,600 US Hispanic/Latino individuals. Investigators evaluated how MVPA and sedentary time related to genetic variants on obesity in Hispanic/Latino participants. They calculated an overall genetic risk score (GRS), central nervous system (CNS)-related GRS, and non-CNS GRS based on 97 BMI-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Among the results:
- The genetic link with BMI was stronger in individuals with lower vs higher MVPA.
- It was also stronger in those with greater vs less sedentary time.
- Similar patterns were seen with obesity risk, body fat mass, fat percentage, fat mass index, and waist circumference.
- No such pattern was seen with fat free mass.
The authors noted that increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior may weaken genetic ties to obesity.
Moon J, Wang T, Sofer T, et al. Objectively measured physical activity, sedentary behavior and genetic predisposition to obesity in US Hispanics/Latinos: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). [Published online ahead of print October 6, 2017]. Diabetes. doi:10.2337/db17-0573.