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Genetic Polymorphisms Associated with Obesity in Southeast Asian Populations: A Systematic Review without
Ubashini Vijakumaran1, Nor Azian Abdul Murad1, Muhammad Irfan Abdul Jalal1
1UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences : MJMS
|July 31, 2026
Summary
Genetic factors influence obesity risk in Southeast Asia. Gene variations like UCP and FTO show associations with obesity in specific ethnic groups, highlighting genetic diversity and the need for further research.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Obesity is a significant global health issue.
- Genetic factors are increasingly recognized as contributors to obesity.
- Southeast Asia presents a unique demographic for studying gene-environment interactions in obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize findings on gene polymorphisms and obesity risk in Southeast Asian populations.
- To investigate ethnic variations in genetic associations with obesity within the region.
- To identify specific genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to obesity in Southeast Asia.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
- 25 studies involving 8,312 participants examining 33 SNPs were selected and quality-assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).
- Meta-analysis was performed on selected studies to determine odds ratios (OR) and p-values for gene-obesity associations.
Main Results:
- *UCP* polymorphism was significantly associated with adiposity in Malaysian women (OR = 2.02, P = 0.01).
- The rs659366 *UCP2* variant was linked to weight gain in an Indonesian cohort.
- *FTO* variants (rs9939609, rs1421085) were associated with obesity and higher BMI in Indonesians, but not Malaysians.
- No significant association was found between *LEP* variants and obesity in Malaysians.
Conclusions:
- Genetic associations with obesity in Southeast Asia are population-specific, reflecting significant genetic diversity.
- Replication of genetic findings across different ethnic groups in the region remains challenging.
- Further large-scale, diverse cohort studies and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are crucial for identifying robust obesity biomarkers in Southeast Asia.
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