Impact of dietary and obesity genetic risk scores on weight gain.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nWhether genetic background and/or dietary behaviors influence weight gain in middle-aged subjects is debated.\n\n\nOBJECTIVE\nTo assess whether genetic background and/or dietary behaviors are associated with changes in obesity markers (BMI, weight, and waist and hip circumferences) in a Swiss population-based cohort.\n\n\nMETHODS\nCross-sectional and prospective (follow-up of 5.3 y) study. Two obesity genetic risk scores (GRS) based on 31 or 68 single nucleotide polymorphisms were used. Dietary intake was assessed using a semiquantitative FFQ. Three dietary patterns Meat & fries (unhealthy), Fruits & vegetables (healthy), and Fatty & sugary (unhealthy), and 3 dietary scores (2 Mediterranean and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index [AHEI]) were computed.\n\n\nRESULTS\nOn cross-sectional analysis (N\xa0=\xa03033, 53.2% females, 58.4\xa0±\xa010.6 y), obesity markers were positively associated with unhealthy dietary patterns and GRS, and negatively associated with healthy dietary scores and patterns. On prospective analysis (N\xa0=\xa02542, 54.7% females, age at baseline 58.0\xa0±\xa010.4 y), the AHEI and the Fruits & vegetables pattern were negatively associated with waist circumference gain: multivariate-adjusted average\xa0±\xa0SE 0.96\xa0±\xa00.25 compared with 0.11\xa0±\xa00.26 cm (P for trend 0.044), and 1.14\xa0±\xa00.26 compared with -0.05\xa0±\xa00.26 cm (P for trend 0.042) for the first and fourth quartiles of the AHEI and the Fruits & vegetables pattern, respectively. Similar inverse associations were obtained for changes in waist\xa0>5 cm: multivariate-adjusted OR (95% CI): 0.65 (0.50, 0.85) and 0.67 (0.51, 0.89) for the fourth versus the first quartile of the AHEI and the Fruits & vegetables dietary pattern, respectively. No associations were found between GRS and changes in obesity markers, and no significant gene-diet interactions were found.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nDietary intake, not GRS, are associated with waist circumference in middle-aged subjects living in Lausanne, Switzerland.