Impact of polygenic score for BMI on weight loss effectiveness and genome-wide association analysis

While environmental factors play an important role in weight loss effectiveness, genetics may also influence its success. We examined whether a genome-wide polygenic score for BMI was associated with weight loss effectiveness and aimed to identify common genetic variants associated with weight loss.

Participants in the ONTIME study (n = 1210) followed a uniform, multimodal behavioral weight-loss intervention. We first tested associations between a genome-wide polygenic score for higher BMI and weight loss effectiveness (total weight loss, rate of weight loss, and attrition). We then conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for weight loss in the ONTIME study and performed the largest weight loss meta-analysis with earlier studies (n = 3056). Lastly, we ran exploratory GWAS in the ONTIME study for other weight loss outcomes and related factors.

We found that each standard deviation increment in the polygenic score was associated with a decrease in the rate of weight loss (Beta (95% CI) = −0.04 kg per week (−0.06, −0.01); P = 3.7 × 10⁻⁰³) and with higher attrition after adjusting by treatment duration. No associations reached genome-wide significance in meta-analysis with previous GWAS studies for weight loss. However, associations in the ONTIME study showed effects consistent with published studies for rs545936 (MIR486/NKX6.3/ANK1), a previously noted weight loss locus. In the meta-analysis, each copy of the minor A allele was associated with 0.12 (0.03) kg/m² higher BMI at week five of treatment (P = 3.9 × 10⁻⁰⁶). In the ONTIME study, we also identified two genome-wide significant (P < 5×10⁻⁰⁸) loci for the rate of weight loss near genes implicated in lipolysis, body weight, and metabolic regulation: rs146905606 near NFIP1/SPRY4/FGF1; and rs151313458 near LSAMP.

Our findings are expected to help in developing personalized weight loss approaches based on genetics.

Obesity, Nutrigenetics, Timing, and Mediterranean (ONTIME; clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02829619) study.