Genetic evidence for the association between schizophrenia and obesity
Authors' conclusion
This study clarified that the increased obesity prevalence in individuals with SCZ is not due to the genetic effect of SCZ itself. Rather, genetic variants associated with SCZ have a negative impact on both causality and correlations between SCZ and obesity.
Study context
- Population
- Taiwan Biobank samples of East Asian populations; European populations for genetic correlation and Mendelian randomization (MR)Taiwan Biobank
- Participants
- 106,614 participants
- Comparison
- Genetic liability for schizophrenia (SCZ) vs obesity-related traits
- Outcome
- Association of genetic predisposition for SCZ with obesity traits (per SD of genetic predisposition)
Methodological detailsTaiwan Biobank, linear regression, genetic correlation in East Asian and European populations, two-sample MR in European populations
- Taiwan Biobank
- Linear regression
- Genetic correlation in East Asian and European populations
- Two-sample MR in European populations
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Body mass index (BMI), beta±SE
- −0.11 ± 0.01
- Body fat percentage, beta±SE
- −0.16 ± 0.02
- Waist circumference, beta±SE
- −0.20 ± 0.03
- Hip circumference, beta±SE
- −0.17 ± 0.02
- Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), beta±SE
- −0.06 ± 0.02
Further findings
Genetic correlation of SCZ with obesity traits (East Asian and European)
- BMI rg±SE (East Asian and European)
- −0.15 ± 0.03 and −0.11 ± 0.01
- Waist circumference rg±SE (East Asian and European)
- −0.10 ± 0.03 and −0.08 ± 0.02
- Hip circumference rg±SE (East Asian and European)
- −0.12 ± 0.03 and −0.08 ± 0.03
- Body fat percentage rg±SE, East Asian (p-value = 0.0001)
- −0.13 ± 0.03
- Body fat percentage rg±SE, European (p-value = 0.62)
- −0.02 ± 0.04
Mendelian randomization (European populations)
- Negative causal relationships from SCZ to BMI, body fat percentage (BFP), waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC)
Original publication
Genetic evidence for the association between schizophrenia and obesity. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 30 March 2026. doi:10.
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