Do genetic risk scores for body mass index predict risk of phobic anxiety? Evidence for a shared genetic risk factor.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obesity and anxiety are often linked but the direction of effects is not clear.

Method

Using genetic instrumental variable (IV) analyses in 5911 female participants from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS, initiated 1976) and 3697 male participants from the Health Professional Follow-up Study (HPFS, initiated 1986), we aimed to determine whether obesity increases symptoms of phobic anxiety. As instrumental variables we used the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene, the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene and a genetic risk score (GRS) based on 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that significantly predict body mass index (BMI). 'Functional' GRSs corresponding with specific biological pathways that shape BMI (adipogenesis, appetite and cardiopulmonary) were

SUBMITTER: Walter S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4387884 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature