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  • Original Article
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The A-allele of the common FTO gene variant rs9939609 complicates weight maintenance in severe obese patients

International Journal of Obesity volume 37, pages 135–139 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

The A-allele of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene variant rs9939609 has been associated with increased body weight, whereas no effect on weight loss during weight reduction programs has been observed. We questioned whether the AA-genotype interferes with weight stabilization after weight loss.

Design:

We conducted a monocentric, longitudinal study involving obese individuals. The FTO gene variant rs9939609 was genotyped in participants attending a weight reduction program that was divided into two phases: a weight reduction period with formula diet (12 weeks) and a weight maintenance phase (40 weeks). Body weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and concentrations of blood glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides were determined in week 0 (T0), after 12 weeks (T1) and at the end in week 52 (T2).

Subjects:

A total of 193 obese subjects aged between 18 and 72 years (129 female, 64 male; initial body weight: 122.4±22.3 kg, initial BMI: 41.8±6.7 kg m−2) were included.

Results:

Genotyping revealed 32.1% TT-, 39.4% AT- and 28.5% AA-genotype carriers. At T0, carriers of the AA-genotype had significantly higher body weight (P=0.04) and BMI (P=0.005) than carriers of the TT-genotype. Of the 193 participants, 68 discontinued and 125 completed the program. Dropout rate was not influenced by genotype (P=0.33). Completers with AA-genotype showed significantly lower additional weight loss during the weight maintenance phase than TT-genotype carriers (P=0.02). Furthermore, among participants facing weight regain during weight maintenance (n=52), more subjects were carrying the AA-genotype (P=0.006). No influence of genotype on weight reduction under formula diet was observed (P=0.32).

Conclusion:

In this program, the AA-genotype of rs9939609 was associated with a higher initial body weight and did influence success of weight stabilization. Thus, emphasizing the maintenance phase during a weight reduction program might result in better success for AA-genotype carriers.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Grant of European Foundation of the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) (GR, CW) and of ERC (AdipoDif CW).

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Author notes

  1. A Woehning and J-H Schultz: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    A Woehning, E Roeder, B Isermann, P P Nawroth & G Rudofsky

  2. Department of Psychosomatic and General Internal Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    J-H Schultz

  3. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland

    E Roeder & C Wolfrum

  4. Center of Excellence for Assessment in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    A Moeltner

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  1. A Woehning
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Correspondence to G Rudofsky.

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Woehning, A., Schultz, JH., Roeder, E. et al. The A-allele of the common FTO gene variant rs9939609 complicates weight maintenance in severe obese patients. Int J Obes 37, 135–139 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2012.14

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