Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between common FTO (rs17817449) and MC4R (rs17782313) gene variants and body mass reduction or weight loss after a one-month lifestyle intervention in overweight/obese children. Design and methods: We genotyped 357 unrelated non-diabetic Czech children (age 13.7 +/- 4.9 years, average BMI at baseline 30.8 +/- 4.6 kg/m(2)).
Biochemical and anthropometrical measurements were performed before and after 4 weeks of lifestyle interventions (comprising a reduction in energy intake to the age-matched optimum and a supervised exercise program consisting of 5 exercise units per day, 50 min each). Results: The mean weight loss achieved was 6.2 +/- 2.1 kg (P<0.001).
Significant associations were found between a BMI decrease and the FTO and MC4R variants. Carriers of the FTO GG genotype and/or MC4R CC genotype lost significantly more body weight compared to noncarriers (P<0.0009 for BMI and P<0.002 for body weight).
These differences remained significant following adjustment for sex, age and baseline values (P=0.004 for BMI and P=0.01 for body weight). Conclusions: FTO and MC4R gene variants modify the impact of an intensive lifestyle intervention on BMI decrease in overweight/obese children.
Carriers of the FTO GG genotype and MC4R CC genotype benefit significantly more from the lifestyle intervention.