Pleiotropic genetic influence on birth weight and childhood obesity.

ABSTRACT: Childhood obesity is a global public health problem. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie early origins of childhood obesity can facilitate interventions. Consistent phenotypic and genetic correlations have been found between childhood obesity traits and birth weight (a proxy for in-utero growth), suggesting shared genetic influences (pleiotropy). We aimed to (1) investigate whether there is significant shared genetic influence between birth weight and childhood obesity traits, and (2) to identify genetic loci with shared effects. Using a statistical approach that integrates summary statistics and functional annotations for paired traits, we found strong evidence of pleiotropy (P < 3.53 × 10^-127) and enrichment of functional annotations (P < 1.62 × 10^-39

SUBMITTER: Chatterjee S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7794220 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature