Deviation From Genetically Predicted BMI and All‐Cause Mortality: A Cohort Study in the UK Biobank
An erratum to this article was published (Obesity (Silver Spring), Mar 2026 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
These findings highlight the possible importance of aligning current BMI to genetic predisposition, and future research should examine BMI deviations and their long-term health effects. This perspective may inform personalized obesity management strategies to optimize health outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants; gBMI derived from polygenic risk scores, deviation = observed minus predicted BMI
- Participants
- 208,146 participants
- Exposure
- Deviation from genetically predicted BMI: downward or upward
- Outcome
- All-cause mortality
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for confounders and current BMI
- UK Biobank
- Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for confounders and current BMI
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Downward deviationsignificantly increased mortality
1.25(1.01–1.55)
Upward deviationno significant effect
1.10(0.93–1.29)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- J-shaped association with observed BMI, lowest at BMI
- ≈22 kg/m²
- High gBMI: lowest mortality at higher observed BMI
- 24-26 kg/m²
- Low or medium gBMI: sharper increases in mortality at higher BMI
Original publication
Deviation From Genetically Predicted BMI and All‐Cause Mortality: A Cohort Study in the UK Biobank. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 2 October 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →