title: Does the FTO gene interact with the socioeconomic status on the obesity development among young European children? Results from the IDEFICS study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various twin studies revealed that the influence of genetic factors on psychological diseases or behaviour is more expressed in socioeconomically advantaged environments. Other studies predominantly show an inverse association between socioeconomic status (SES) and childhood obesity in Western developed countries. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene interacts with the SES on childhood obesity in a subsample (N = 4406) of the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS) cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structural equation model (SEM) is applied with the latent constructs obesity, dietary intakes, physical activity and fitness habits, and parental SES to estimate the main effects of the latter three variables and a FTO polymorphism on childhood obesity. Further, a multiple group SEM is used to explore whether an interaction effect exists between the single nucleotide polymorphism rs9939609 within the FTO gene and SES.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant main effects are shown for physical activity and fitness (standardised [betacrc ](s) = -0.113), SES ([betacrc ](s) = -0.057) and the FTO homozygous AA risk genotype ([betacrc ](s) = -0.177). The explained variance of obesity is ~9%. According to the multiple group approach of SEM, we see an interaction between SES and FTO with respect to their effect on childhood obesity (Δχ(2) = 7.3, df = 2, P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children carrying the protective FTO genotype TT seem to be more protected by a favourable social environment regarding the development of obesity than children carrying the AT or AA genotype.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foraita
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Business School, Department of Intercultural Communication and Management, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gwozdz
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Business School, Department of Intercultural Communication and Management, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Reisch
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology & Population Genetics, Institute of Food Sciences-CNR, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology & Population Genetics, Institute of Food Sciences-CNR, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lauria
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology & Population Genetics, Institute of Food Sciences-CNR, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siani
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Diseases, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Veidebaum
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Institute of Child Health, Strovolos, Cyprus.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tornaritis
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS).
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iacoviello
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium [2] Research Foundation Flanders, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vyncke
authors.affiliation: University of Brighton, School of Sport and Service Management, Eastbourne, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pitsiladis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Institution of clinical sciences, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mårild
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.affiliation: University of Zaragoza, Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: 1] Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany [2] University of Bremen, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Science (IPP), Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bammann
authors.affiliation: 1] Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany [2] University of Bremen, Faculty 03: Mathematics/Computer Science, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pigeot
mesh_terms: D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015995:Prevalence; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human