Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Obesity is heritable and predisposes to many diseases. To understand the genetic basis of obesity better, here we conduct a genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used to define obesity and assess adiposity, in up to 339,224 individuals. This analysis identifies 97 BMI-associated loci (P < 5 × 10(-8)), 56 of which are novel. Five loci demonstrate clear evidence of several independent association signals, and many loci have significant effects on other metabolic phenotypes. The 97 loci account for ∼2.7% of BMI variation, and genome-wide estimates suggest that common variation accounts for >20% of BMI variation. Pathway analyses provide strong support for a role of the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and implicate new genes and pathways, including those related to synaptic function, glutamate signalling, insulin secretion/action, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 14177 |
Journal | Nature |
Volume | 518 |
Issue number | 7538 |
Pages (from-to) | 197-206 |
Number of pages | 24 |
ISSN | 0028-0836 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 12 Feb 2015 |
- Adipogenesis, Adiposity, Age Factors, Body Mass Index, Continental Population Groups, Energy Metabolism, Europe, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Glutamic Acid, Humans, Insulin, Male, Obesity, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Quantitative Trait Loci, Synapses
Research areas
ID: 156088228