Obesity research & clinical practiceMar 8, 2016

Links between FTO and nearby MC4R gene variants and obesity in city and countryside Sri Lankans

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 29, 2026

Abstract

The FTO risk genotypes (AA+AT) are associated with higher BMI and waist circumference in Sri Lankans.

FTO risk genotypes were linked to higher BMI (p=0.03) and waist circumference (p=0.05).
Carriers of near MC4R risk genotypes (CC+CT) had greater BMI (p=0.03) and were more likely to be categorized as obese (OR 1.57, p=0.01).
MC4R risk genotype carriers showed significantly higher fasting blood sugar levels compared to 'TT' genotype carriers, independent of BMI (p=0.05).
Urban living was associated with significantly greater BMI values for individuals with FTO risk genotypes compared to those living in rural areas (p=0.02).

Simplified

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between the fat mass and obesity related (FTO) gene rs9939609 and near melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) gene rs17782313 polymorphisms with obesity measures and metabolic parameters in urban and rural dwelling Sri Lankans.

METHODS: 535 subjects (60.9% female) from the general adult population (ages 18-70 years) representative of both urban (28.4%) and rural areas of residence were recruited by multi-stage random sampling. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was obtained by standard methods. DNA extracted from whole blood was genotyped using real-time PCR.

RESULTS: The FTO risk genotypes (AA+AT) were associated with higher BMI (p=0.03) and WC (p=0.05) measures as well as categorical obesity (BMI ≥27.5kgmdefinition) (OR 1.69 95% CI 1.11-2.56, p=0.01). The near MC4R risk genotypes (CC+CT) were associated with greater BMI (p=0.03) as well as categorical obesity (BMI ≥25kgmdefinition) (OR 1.57 95% CI 1.11-2.22, p=0.01). In addition the MC4R risk genotype carriers (CC+CT) had significantly higher fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels compared to the 'TT' genotype carriers independent of BMI (p=0.05). Urban living was associated with significantly greater BMI values for FTO risk genotypes compared to rural living (p=0.02). -2 -2

CONCLUSIONS: FTO and near MC4R variants are associated with obesity measures in Sri Lankan populations whilst urban living accentuates the obesogenic effect of the FTO polymorphism.

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Links between FTO and nearby MC4R gene variants and obesity in city and countryside Sri Lankans

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