Genetic scores for BMI related to metabolically unhealthy obesity in an older Chinese population

Abstract

Objective: In this study, a genetic risk score (GRS) for the body mass index (BMI) tested and built using a large sample of Chinese individuals aged at least 50 years in southern China. We collected information regarding the participants’ weights at 20 years of age and middle age and tested the BMI‐GRS effect modes.

Methods: This study involved a prospective study design. The genetic data of the participants in from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study and selected BMI‐related single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to establish the GRS.

Results: We included 13 597 participants with 12 SNPs. After adjusting for covariates, the high‐GRS group was 36% (95% CI: 25%‐48%) and 34% (95% CI: 23%‐47%) more likely of being overweight at baseline and follow‐up, respectively, and 56% (95% CI: 34%‐82%) and 49% (95% CI: 29%‐72%) more likely of being obese at baseline and follow‐up, respectively, compared with the low‐GRS group (P‐value for all trends <.05). The RRs for the incidences of metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese (MHO and MUO, respectively) individuals in the high‐GRS group were 0.94 (95% CI: 0.65‐1.35) and 1.28 (95% CI: 1.00‐1.63), respectively.

Conclusion: High‐GRS participants were more likely to be overweight/obese at baseline and follow‐up, and this relationship exhibited a dose‐response relationship. The GRS was also associated with MUO.