Dietary Energy Density Affects Fat Mass in Early Adolescence and Is Not Modified by FTO Variants

2009

Dietary Energy Density Affects Fat Mass in Early Adolescence and Is Not Modified by FTO Variants

Sample size: 2275 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Laura Johnson, Cornelia H. M. van Jaarsveld, Pauline M. Emmett, Imogen S. Rogers, Andy R. Ness, Andrew T. Hattersley, Nick J. Timpson, George Davey Smith, Susan A. Jebb

Primary Institution: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London

Hypothesis

Does dietary energy density (DED) interact with FTO variants to affect fat mass in early adolescence?

Conclusion

The study found that while FTO may increase the risk of obesity, a low dietary energy density can help all children avoid excessive fat gain.

Supporting Evidence

Each A allele of FTO was associated with 0.35 kg more fat mass at age 13.
Each 1 kJ/g increase in DED at age 10 was associated with 0.16 kg more fat mass at age 13.
There was no evidence of interaction between DED and FTO on fat mass.
Misreporting of energy intake was accounted for in the analysis.
Children with plausible reports of energy intake had different fat mass outcomes compared to under-reporters.

Takeaway

Eating foods that are less energy-dense can help kids not gain too much fat, even if they have a gene that makes them more likely to be overweight.

Methodology

The study analyzed data from 2,275 children in the ALSPAC cohort, assessing diet at age 10 and fat mass at age 13 using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.