Socioeconomic position, genetic susceptibility, and epigenetic profiles in obesity across the life course: a systematic review
Authors' conclusion
Lower educational attainment and socioeconomic deprivation appear to amplify genetic susceptibility to obesity, although evidence remains heterogeneous in PRS construction, SEP operationalization, outcome definition, ancestry, and analytical framework.
Study context
- Population
- Human studies examining Socioeconomic Position (SEP), genetic or epigenetic markers, life course and adiposity-related outcomes98 studies
- Outcome
- Genetic and epigenetic susceptibility to obesity by SEP
Methodological detailsPRISMA guidelines, five databases, risk of bias assessed using QUIPS, 79 genetic and 21 epigenetic studies, two contributing to both domains
- PRISMA guidelines
- Five databases
- Risk of bias assessed using QUIPS
- 79 genetic and 21 epigenetic studies, two contributing to both domains
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
- Studies formally testing genetic susceptibility-by-SEP interactions; Polygenic risk scores (PRS)-size patterns descriptive, no clear hierarchy: large PRS gave most formal interaction findings, medium PRS a high proportion of significant findings in fewer, less comparable studies
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Original publication
Socioeconomic position, genetic susceptibility, and epigenetic profiles in obesity across the life course: a systematic review. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 3 August 2026. doi:10.
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