Physical activity attenuates genetic effects on BMI: Results from a study of Chinese adult twins

• DOI: 10.1002/oby.21402
• Publication Date: 2016-02-02T07:22:49Z
• Authors: Biqi Wang; Wenjing Gao; Jun Lv; Canqing Yu; Shengfeng Wang; Zengchang Pang; Liming Cong; Zhong Dong; Fan Wu; Hua Wang; Xianping Wu; Guohong Jiang; Xiaojie Wang; Binyou Wang; Weihua Cao; Liming Li
• Keywords: Adult; Male; 0303 health sciences; Body Weight; Twins, Monozygotic; Middle Aged; Body Mass Index; 03 medical and health sciences; Asian People; Surveys and Questionnaires; Diseases in Twins; Twins, Dizygotic; Humans; Female; Gene-Environment Interaction; Obesity; Registries; Exercise; Life Style; Aged

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the gene–environment interaction of physical activity and body mass index (BMI) using the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR).MethodsA total of 19,308 same‐sex adult twins from CNTR were included in the analysis. Twin zygosity was determined by self‐reported questionnaire. Height and weight were measured using self‐reported questionnaire. The vigorous physical activity was defined as greater or equal to five times a week of at least 30 min moderate‐ or high‐intensity physical activity. A twin structural equation model was used to analyze the gene–environment interaction of vigorous exercise with BMI among 13,506 monozygotic twins and 5,802 dizygotic twins.ResultsA structural equation model adjusting for age and sex found vigorous exercise significantly moderated the additive genetic effects (P < 0.001) and shared environmental effects (P < 0.001) on BMI. The genetic contributions to BMI were significantly lower for people who adopted a physically active lifestyle [h2 = 40%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 35%–46%] than those who were relative sedentary (h2 = 59%, 95% CI: 52%–66%). The observed gene–physical activity interaction was more pronounced in men than women.ConclusionsOur results suggested that adopting a physically active lifestyle may help to reduce the genetic influence on BMI among the Chinese population.