Genetic Determinants of Obesity and Cardiometabolic Outcomes: Insights from Mendelian Randomization and Surgical Response Studies
Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This thesis examines genetic influences on obesity, cardiometabolic traits, and bariatricsurgery outcomes. The first study used a sex-stratified Mendelian randomization to investigate the causal effect of corrected insulin response (CIR) on cardiometabolic diseases. Our data suggests that higher CIR may protect against type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia, without exerting adverse effects on coronary artery disease in both sexes. In females, CIR may increase BMI. But it may also increase leg fat, which is thought to be metabolically favorable. The second study assessed the association between the fraction of the genome in runs of homozygosity (FROH), in relation to both BMI and percentage weight loss (PWL) one-year after bariatric surgery. FROH was not significantly associated with pre-operative BMI. However, the cumulative ROH length in an individual is positively associated with higher BMI. No significant association was found between FROH and one-year PWL. This awaits confirmation in larger and well-powered studies.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Wu, Yuchao
Institution: University of Toronto
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7132951530