Link between a common obesity gene variant and food reward and eating habits in Chilean children

Allelic frequencies of rs9939609 were found to be 77% for the A allele and 23% for the T allele in a study of 258 Chilean children.

• Normal-weight girls carrying the A allele had higher scores in Satiety Responsiveness and Slowness.
• Normal-weight boys with the A allele exhibited higher Negative Affect and lower Desire to Drink scores.
• Overweight A carriers showed increased Food Responsiveness, Emotional Overeating, Enjoyment of Food, and Food Choice scores, alongside lower Satiety Responsiveness and Slowness scores.
• Obese children with the A allele had higher Cognitive Restraint scores and lower Food Choice scores.
• The A allele of rs9939609 in the FTO gene is associated with specific eating behavior traits, which may predispose individuals to obesity.

Simplified