Original Article

International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, 1388–1394; doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.110; published online 29 July 2008

Impact on weight dynamics and general growth of the common FTO rs9939609: a longitudinal Danish cohort study

T Jess1,7, E Zimmermann1,7, S I I Kring1,2, T Berentzen1, C Holst1, S Toubro3, A Astrup4, T Hansen5, O Pedersen5,6 and T I A Sørensen1

  1. 1Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Centre for Health and Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
  2. 2Center for Pharmacogenomics, the Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  3. 3Reduce—Research Clinic of Nutrition, Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
  4. 4Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  5. 5Steno Diabetes Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
  6. 6Faculty of Health Science, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

Correspondence: Dr T Jess, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Centre for Health and Society, Øster Søgade 18, 1st floor, Copenhagen K DK-1357, Denmark. E-mail: tj@ipm.regionh.dk

7These authors have contributed equally to this work.

Received 23 December 2007; Revised 7 June 2008; Accepted 9 June 2008; Published online 29 July 2008.

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Abstract

Objective and design:

 

We investigated the impact of the fatness-related FTO rs9939609 A-allele on cross-sectional and longitudinal measures of body mass index (BMI), height and lean body mass (LBM) in a unique cohort representing a broad range of BMI.

Subjects and measurements:

 

A random sample of all men attending the Danish draft boards during 1943–1977 plus all men with a BMIgreater than or equal to31.0 kg/m2 (assuring representation of the right end of the distribution) was taken. Anthropometric measures were available at up to eight points in time from birth to adulthood in 1629 genotyped men. The odds ratio (OR) for being a carrier of FTO rs9939609 according to (1) one unit alteration in z-scores for BMI, height and LBM at given ages and (2) longitudinal changes in BMI and height z-scores were assessed by logistic regression.

Results:

 

Except at birth, the AA genotype was associated with increased BMI z-scores at all point during the monitored lifespan, starting at the age of 7 years. This effect remained stable until early adulthood, where further weight gain occurred. The AA genotype was also—mainly through the effect on fatness—associated with accelerated linear growth in childhood (age 7 years; OR, 1.36; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06–1.74) and increased LBM in adulthood (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.14–1.35).

Conclusion:

 

Fatness induced by FTO rs9939609 in early childhood is sustained until early adulthood, where further weight gain may occur. FTO rs9939609 may, however, also be associated with linear growth and LBM mainly through the effect on fat mass.

Keywords:

BMI, fat mass, FTO rs9939609, lean body mass, linear growth, weight dynamics

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