title: Attenuation of the effect of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism on total and central body fat by physical activity in adolescents: the HELENA study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether physical activity attenuates the effect of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism on body fat estimates in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athens, Greece; Dortmund, Germany; Ghent, Belgium; Heraklion, Greece; Lille, France; Pécs, Hungary; Rome, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; Vienna, Austria; and Zaragoza, Spain, from October 2006 to December 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross-Sectional Study (n = 752).
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The FTO rs9939609 polymorphism was genotyped. Physical activity was assessed by accelerometry. We measured weight, height, waist circumference, and triceps and subscapular skinfolds; body mass index (BMI [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared]) and body fat percentage were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The A allele of the FTO polymorphism was significantly associated with higher BMI (+0.42 per risk allele), higher body fat percentage (+1.03% per risk allele), and higher waist circumference (+0.85 cm per risk allele). We detected significant or borderline gene x physical activity interactions for the studied body fat estimates (for interaction, P = .02, .06, and .10 for BMI, body fat percentage, and waist circumference, respectively). Indeed, the effect of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism on these body fat parameters was much lower in adolescents who met the daily physical activity recommendations (ie, >/=60 min/d of moderate to vigorous physical activity) compared with those who did not: +0.17 vs +0.65 per risk allele in BMI, respectively; +0.40% vs +1.70% per risk allele in body fat percentage, respectively; and +0.60 vs +1.15 cm per risk allele in waist circumference, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents meeting the daily physical activity recommendations may overcome the effect of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism on obesity-related traits.
authors.affiliation: Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. ruizj@ugr.es
authors.forename: Jonatan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Idoia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Labayen
authors.forename: Francisco B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Legry
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dallongeville
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martínez-Gómez
authors.forename: Szilvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bokor
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manios
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciarapica
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrand
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Henauw
authors.forename: Denes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sjöström
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meirhaeghe
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human