Do physical activity, commuting mode, cardiorespiratory fitness and sedentary behaviours modify the genetic predisposition to higher BMI? Findings from a UK Biobank study

Gray, S. et al. (2019) Do physical activity, commuting mode, cardiorespiratory fitness and sedentary behaviours modify the genetic predisposition to higher BMI? Findings from a UK Biobank study. International Journal of Obesity, 43, pp. 1526-1538. (doi: 10.1038/s41366-019-0381-5) (PMID:31168053)

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether the association between a genetic profile risk score for obesity (GPRS-obesity) (based on 93 SNPs) and body mass index (BMI) was modified by physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness, commuting mode, walking pace and sedentary behaviours. Methods: For the analyses we used cross-sectional baseline data from 310,652 participants in the UK Biobank study. We investigated interaction effects of GPRS-obesity with objectively measured and self-reported PA, cardiorespiratory fitness, commuting mode, walking pace, TV viewing, playing computer games, PC-screen time and total sedentary behaviour on BMI. Body mass index (BMI) was the main outcome measure. Results: GPRS-obesity was associated with BMI (β:0.54 kg.m−2 per standard deviation (SD) increase in GPRS, [95% CI: 0.53; 0.56]; P = 2.1 × 10−241). There was a significant interaction between GPRS-obesity and objectively measured PA (P[interaction] = 3.3 × 10−11): among inactive individuals, BMI was higher by 0.58 kg.m−2 per SD increase in GPRS-obesity (p = 1.3 × 10−70) whereas among active individuals the relevant BMI difference was less (β:0.33 kg.m−2, p = 6.4 × 10−41). We observed similar patterns for fitness (Unfit β:0.72 versus Fit β:0.36 kg.m−2, P[interaction] = 1.4 × 10−11), walking pace (Slow β:0.91 versus Brisk β:0.38 kg.m−2, P[interaction] = 8.1 × 10−27), discretionary sedentary behaviour (High β:0.64 versus Low β:0.48 kg.m−2, P[interaction] = 9.1 × 10−12), TV viewing (High β:0.62 versus Low β:0.47 kg.m−2, P[interaction] = 1.7 × 10−11), PC-screen time (High β:0.82 versus Low β:0.54 kg.m−2, P[interaction] = 0.0004) and playing computer games (Often β:0.69 versus Low β:0.52 kg.m−2, P[interaction] = 8.9 × 10−10). No significant interactions were found for commuting mode (car, public transport, active commuters). Conclusions: Physical activity, sedentary behaviours and fitness modify the extent to which a set of the most important known adiposity variants affect BMI. This suggests that the adiposity benefits of high PA and low sedentary behaviour may be particularly important in individuals with high genetic risk for obesity.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The UK Biobank was supported by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Department of Health, Scottish Government and the Northwest Regional Development Agency. It has also had funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and the British Heart Foundation.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gill, Professor Jason and Anderson, Dr Jana and Mackay, Professor Daniel and Welsh, Professor Paul and Bailey, Dr Mark and Ward, Dr Joey and Celis, Dr Carlos and Gray, Professor Stuart and Iliodromiti, Dr Stamatina and Pell, Professor Jill and Petermann-Rocha, Mrs Fanny and Sattar, Professor Naveed and Lyall, Dr Donald
• Authors: Gray, S., Celis-Morales, C. A., Lyall, D. M., Petermann, F., Anderson, J., Ward, J., Iliodromiti, S., Mackay, D. F., Welsh, P., Bailey, M. E.S., Pell, J., Sattar, N., Gill, J. M.R., and Gray, S. R.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
• Journal Name: International Journal of Obesity
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• ISSN: 0307-0565
• ISSN (Online): 1476-5497
• Published Online: 05 June 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Authors, under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2019
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Obesity 43:1526-1538
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy