New study highlights link between socioeconomic disadvantage, genetic risk, and obesity in youth

A recent study has revealed how socioeconomic disadvantage and genetic predisposition combine to influence obesity risk from early childhood through adolescence.

Published in The Lancet, the research underscores the significant role that early-life socioeconomic conditions play in shaping long-term health outcomes, particularly for children with a higher genetic susceptibility to obesity.

The longitudinal study tracked over 5,000 participants, including 1,607 children and 2,406 adults, to assess the interplay between polygenic risk scores for Body Mass Index (BMI) and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Key findings include children from highly disadvantaged environments consistently exhibited higher BMI trends and the effects were amplified in children with high genetic predisposition to obesity, demonstrating a clear interaction between genes and environment.

The study also simulated hypothetical interventions aimed at reducing socioeconomic disadvantage, for children with high genetic risk they found reducing neighbourhood disadvantage could cut obesity risk by 32 per cent and addressing family disadvantage showed an even greater potential - reducing risk by 42 per cent.

In contrast, children with lower genetic risk saw smaller reductions, between 7 per cent and 17 per cent, reinforcing the idea that those with high genetic risk are particularly vulnerable to environmental factors.

This research highlights the need for comprehensive strategies to address childhood obesity. Policies that reduce socioeconomic disparities could have profound benefits, especially for children genetically predisposed to higher BMI. Such measures could help mitigate obesity-related health risks, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and associated economic burdens.