TY - JOUR

T1 - Evidence for shared genetics between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and adiposity-related traits

AU - Schnurr, Theresia M.

AU - Stallknecht, Bente M.

AU - Sørensen, Thorkild I. A.

AU - Kilpelainen, Tuomas O.

AU - Hansen, Torben

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Observational, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies showed that physical activity and sedentary behaviour are associated with adiposity-related traits, apparently in a bidirectional manner. Physical activity is also suggested to suppress the genetic risk of adiposity. Since phenotypic associations with genetic variants are not subject to reverse causation or confounding, they may be used as tools to shed light on cause and effect in this complex interdependency. We review the evidence for shared genetics of physical activity and adiposity-related traits and for gene-by-physical activity interactions on adiposity-related traits in human studies. We outline limitations, challenges and opportunities in studying and understanding of these relationships. In summary, physical activity and sedentary behaviour are genetically correlated with body mass index and fat percentage but may not be correlated with lean body mass. Mendelian randomisation analyses show that physical activity and sedentary behaviour have bidirectional relationships with adiposity. Several studies suggest that physical activity suppresses genetic risk of adiposity. No studies have yet tested whether adiposity enhances genetic predisposition to sedentariness. The complexity of the comprehensive causal model makes the assessment of the single or combined components challenging. Substantial progress in this field may need long-term intervention studies.

AB - Observational, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies showed that physical activity and sedentary behaviour are associated with adiposity-related traits, apparently in a bidirectional manner. Physical activity is also suggested to suppress the genetic risk of adiposity. Since phenotypic associations with genetic variants are not subject to reverse causation or confounding, they may be used as tools to shed light on cause and effect in this complex interdependency. We review the evidence for shared genetics of physical activity and adiposity-related traits and for gene-by-physical activity interactions on adiposity-related traits in human studies. We outline limitations, challenges and opportunities in studying and understanding of these relationships. In summary, physical activity and sedentary behaviour are genetically correlated with body mass index and fat percentage but may not be correlated with lean body mass. Mendelian randomisation analyses show that physical activity and sedentary behaviour have bidirectional relationships with adiposity. Several studies suggest that physical activity suppresses genetic risk of adiposity. No studies have yet tested whether adiposity enhances genetic predisposition to sedentariness. The complexity of the comprehensive causal model makes the assessment of the single or combined components challenging. Substantial progress in this field may need long-term intervention studies.

KW - adiposity

KW - genetic determinants

KW - physical activity

KW - sedentary behaviour

KW - BODY-MASS INDEX

KW - GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION

KW - MENDELIAN RANDOMIZATION

KW - ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

KW - FTO GENE

KW - MISSING HERITABILITY

KW - SUSCEPTIBILITY LOCI

KW - CHILDHOOD OBESITY

KW - REGULAR EXERCISE

KW - POOLED ANALYSIS

U2 - 10.1111/obr.13182

DO - 10.1111/obr.13182

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33354910

VL - 22

JO - Obesity Reviews

JF - Obesity Reviews

SN - 1467-7881

IS - 4

M1 - e13182

ER -