Does Genetic Risk Inhibit Response to Lifestyle Interventions for Obese Children?

Among children with single-nucleotide variants for obesity, an inpatient lifestyle intervention program was successful.

Genetic risk for obesity has been established, but the control that this risk exerts on a child's ability to respond to lifestyle interventions for obesity are unknown. To address this question, researchers in Germany examined weight reduction in 1200 children (mean age, 14 years; mean body-mass index [BMI], 33.8 kg/m²) who were enrolled in a 4- to 6-week inpatient lifestyle intervention program (i.e., involving physical activity, diet, and behavior modifications) and were genotyped for single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) for obesity.

By the end of intervention, participants lost a mean 8.7 kg, and mean BMI declined by 3.3 kg/m². Overall, body weight and BMI changes were not associated significantly with having particular SNVs for obesity. Two…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

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Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Does Genetic Risk Inhibit Response to Lifestyle Interventions for Obese Children?

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Reviewing Author