Variant rs9939609 in the FTO gene is associated with obesity in an adult population from Spain

Recently independent studies, including genome-wide scans, have shown that variation in the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) were significantly associated with obesity in populations of European origin. In this study we examined the association between rs9939609 FTO variant and obesity related parameters in a population based-study of 732 unrelated individuals (46.9% males and 53.1% females; ages 35-74 years) from the province of Segovia in Central Spain (Castille). The AA genotype was significantly more frequent in obese individuals (defined as body mass index >= 30 kg/m(2), n = 207; 80 males and 127 females) than in non-obese (19.9% vs. 13.7%, P = 0.026). In addition to increased obesity, AA homozygous individuals had higher waist circumference than individuals with AT heterozygous and TT homozygous genotypes. The minor A-allele of rs9939609 was associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) for obesity [OR 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-2.12] as compared to the TT genotype. This difference was also statistically significant even after the adjustment for sex and age (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.02-2.07). Our results support the association of FTO gene variants with obesity, including parameters of visceral (abdominal) obesity, in an adult general population from Spain. Overall we confirm the previously reported association studies between variants in FTO gene and the risk of obesity.