Associations Between FTO rs9939609 Genotype, Physical Activity, and Dietary Behaviors in Young Adults

Background: Numerous gene variants are linked to an individual’s propensity to become overweight or obese. A commonly studied gene variant is the FTO single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs9939609. The FTO risk (A/-) allele associated with this SNP is linked with increased body fat percentage, body mass, BMI, and other lifestyle factors that may perpetuate an individual’s risk for obesity. This study investigated dietary behaviors in individuals engaged in varying levels of physical activity with and without the FTO risk allele. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, adults completed the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18) and Food Craving Inventory (FCI) to assess dietary behaviors. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (in-body analyses). Results: Findings indicated that individuals with the FTO risk allele exhibited higher levels of cognitive restraint. No other significant differences were reported in all outcomes between groups. Regression analyses found that physical activity was significantly associated with multiple dietary behaviors (emotional eating, cravings for sweets, the behavioral aspect of fried and sweet cravings), while the FTO risk allele was related to higher cognitive restraint and lower behavioral fried food cravings. Conclusions: Combined, these findings indicate that anthropometric measures and most dietary behaviors did not differ across FTO risk variants in physically active individuals, although individuals with higher-risk genotypes exhibited greater cognitive restraint.