Mediterranean diet and obesity polygenic risk interaction on adiposity in European children: The IDEFICS/I.Family Study
Authors' conclusion
In cross-sectional analysis (baseline and FU2), the MD modulated the association between obesity susceptibility and adiposity indicators in European youth, having an exacerbating effect in children measured during infancy years and an attenuating effect in early adolescent years.
Study context
- Population
- European children and adolescents aged 2–16 years, IDEFICS/I.Family studies1,254 longitudinal
- Exposure
- Mediterranean Diet Score × BMI polygenic risk score on adiposity markers
- Outcome
- BMI and other obesity markers (gene × MD interaction)
Methodological detailsIDEFICS/I.Family, gene × diet interaction, multiple linear regression, Cross-sectional: 1982 at baseline, 1649 at FU1, 1907 at FU2
- IDEFICS/I.Family
- Gene × diet interaction
- Multiple linear regression
- Cross-sectional: 1982 at baseline, 1649 at FU1, 1907 at FU2
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
BMI per higher MDS in children with high genetic susceptibility (cross-sectional)
Baseline: higher Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) associated with higher BMI, β
0.12
95% CI 0.01, 0.24
FU2 (6 years later): higher MDS associated with lower BMI, β
−0.19
95% CI −0.38, −0.01
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Vegetables and legumes (V&L) and BMI/WC, FU2, regardless of genetic risk
- BMI, β
- −0.01 (CI −0.02, −0.00)
- WC, β
- −0.02 (CI −0.03, −0.00)
- Effect sizes small
Longitudinal analyses
- No MDS-obesity associations or gene × diet interaction effects observed
Original publication
Mediterranean diet and obesity polygenic risk interaction on adiposity in European children: The IDEFICS/I.Family Study. Pediatr Obes. Published 19 May 2025. doi:10.
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