Genetic predisposition to adiposity, and type 2 diabetes: the role of lifestyle and phenotypic adiposity
Authors' conclusion
Whilst phenotypic adiposity explains a large proportion of the association between BMI-PRS/WHR-PRS and T2D, modifiable lifestyle factors also make contributions. Promoting healthy lifestyles among people prone to adiposity is important in reducing the global burden of T2D.
Study context
- Population
- White British participants from the UK Biobank
- Participants
- 220,703 participants
- Exposure
- High phenotypic adiposity and high adiposity PRS vs non-obese/central obese and non-high PRS
- Outcome
- Incident T2D
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, mediation and interaction analysis
- UK Biobank
- Mediation and interaction analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio
3.72
Body mass index polygenic risk (BMI-PRS)
Hazard ratio
4.17
Waist-hip ratio polygenic risk (WHR-PRS)
- BMI-PRS/T2D association explained by lifestyle factors (2.0% mediation; 28.5% effect modification)
- 30.5%
- BMI-PRS/T2D association explained by lifestyle and obesity together (78.8% mediation; 13.3% effect modification)
- 92.1%
- WHR-PRS/T2D association explained by lifestyle factors (3.4% mediation; 17.0% effect modification)
- 20.4%
- WHR-PRS/T2D association explained by lifestyle and central obesity together (41.1% mediation; 31.7% effect modification)
- 72.8%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Genetic predisposition to adiposity, and type 2 diabetes: the role of lifestyle and phenotypic adiposity. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 2 May 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →