Genome-wide association study of body fat distribution identifies adiposity loci and sex-specific genetic effects.

ABSTRACT: Body mass and body fat composition are of clinical interest due to their links to cardiovascular- and metabolic diseases. Fat stored in the trunk has been suggested to be more pathogenic compared to fat stored in other compartments. In this study, we perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for the proportion of body fat distributed to the arms, legs and trunk estimated from segmental bio-electrical impedance analysis (sBIA) for 362,499 individuals from the UK Biobank. 98 independent associations with body fat distribution are identified, 29 that have not previously been associated with anthropometric traits. A high degree of sex-heterogeneity is observed and the effects of 37 associated variants are stronger in females compared to males. Our findings also implicate that body fat dis

SUBMITTER: Rask-Andersen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6341104 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature