Socioeconomic disadvantage and polygenic risk of overweight in early and mid-life: a longitudinal population cohort study spanning 12 years
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: We describe BMI by socioeconomic disadvantage and by polygenic risk in parallel cohorts of children and adults (their parents). We examine whether hypothetically intervening to reduce childhood disadvantage could reduce adolescent obesity. Methods: From a population-based cohort (N = 5107) with a mixed design (survey and direct assessment), 24-31% had genotype data: 1607 children (50% male) followed biennially from age 2-3 to 14-15; 2406 adults (36% male) followed from mean age 35-47 years. Exposures were polygenic risk score for BMI, and neighbourhood- and family-level socioeconomic disadvantage categorised as 'most' (top two cohort-specific quintiles), 'average', or 'least' disadvantage (bottom two quintiles). We explored trends in estimated BMI and risk of overweight/obesity by disadvantage, stratified by polygenic risk. We used generalised linear regression to estimate the reduction in overweight/obesity at 14-15 years in children living in 'least/average disadvantage' in early childhood relative to those in 'most disadvantage', adjusted for confounders. Causal effect estimates were obtained separately for children with higher and lower polygenic risk. Findings: A positive trend between disadvantage and overweight/obesity was most apparent among participants with high polygenic risk. Among children with higher polygenic risk (n = 805), hypothetical target trial results imply that intervening to lessen population-wide neighbourhood disadvantage from most to least disadvantage could reduce adolescent overweight/obesity by 32% (risk ratio (RR) 0.68, 95% CI 0.50-0.92), or by 42% if intervening to lessen family disadvantage (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.42-0.79). Positive effects were smaller when isolating the population to those with lower polygenic risk (7-17%), and for the whole population, regardless of polygenic risk (25-39%). Interpretation: Children at higher polygenic risk of obesity suffer disproportionate BMI impacts of disadvantage. At the population-level, and especially for those with higher polygenic risk, tackling disadvantage could potentially reduce obesity and associated morbidity, mortality, and costs. Funding: Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. Funding information is detailed in the funding statement.
Institutions: The University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, University of Otago, University of South Australia, University of Antwerp, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Deakin University, Australian National University, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of Auckland, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Maurice Wilkins Centre, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Monash University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,680
Funders: Financial Markets Foundation for Children, Auckland Regional Council, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Research Institute, Children's Hospital Foundation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital Foundation, Department of Social Services, Australian Government, National Heart Foundation of Australia, Deakin University, University of Melbourne, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, State Government of Victoria, Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Committee on Local Section Activities, American Chemical Society, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne
Awards: G1351750362, Harnessing life-course transitions to optimise time-use behaviour habits, G152818950, G1799103613, Associations between urban nature and cardiovascular disease risk, G2074614971, G2136808017, G2303586334, Faster health solutions for today's children and tomorrow's adults, G2753751914, G2857544583, G3239633165, G3705136370, Patterns, pathways and price of developing disparities in cardiovascular and respiratory health by age 11-12 years: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, G399277928, G4100052125, G4155874121, G4311173392, G4452923341, G4583704242, G4802713920, G4916600097, G5540536233, G5715480361, G5720649120, Biological, phenotypic and public health costs of risk and protective pathways to non-communicable disease in children and adults: The national Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, G583713475, G5863583388, Determinants and cardiometabolic consequences of early life inflammation, G6254162785, G6414660932, G6645575861, G7507675796, G7813261680, G8066289631, G8123507822, G818189085, G8987769154, Driving Global Investment in Adolescent Health, G8999430934
OpenAlex ID: W4404318511