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Reduced genetic influence on childhood obesity in small for gestational age children

Dug Yeo Han1, Rinki Murphy, Angharad R Morgan

  • 1Discipline of Nutrition, FM&HS, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. dy.han@auckland.ac.nz

BMC Medical Genetics
|January 24, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Genetic factors influencing childhood obesity are less significant in children born small-for-gestational-age (SGA) compared to appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) peers. Environmental factors likely play a larger role in SGA children's BMI development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Genetics
  • Metabolic Health

Background:

  • Children born small-for-gestational-age (SGA) face higher risks of obesity and metabolic diseases, especially with rapid postnatal growth.
  • Investigating the role of common gene variants linked to adult obesity in SGA and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) children's BMI trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if adult obesity-associated gene variants influence postnatal growth (BMI z-score) in SGA and AGA children.
  • To compare the impact of genetic risk variants on early childhood BMI between SGA and AGA groups.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyped 37 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 547 European children (228 SGA, 319 AGA).
  • Assessed obesity using repeated BMI z-score measurements.
  • Corrected for multiple testing using the false discovery rate.

Main Results:

  • SGA children exhibited lower BMI z-scores at ages 3.5, 7, and 11 years compared to non-SGA children.
  • Identified 27 variants in 14 obesity risk genes associated with increased early childhood BMI, primarily in AGA children.

Conclusions:

  • Genetic variants have a lesser impact on early childhood BMI in SGA children than in AGA children.
  • Non-genetic or environmental factors may be more critical in shaping childhood BMI for SGA individuals.
Abstract

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