ABSTRACT
Fat mass is one of the important parameters for metabolic risk screening in adolescents. A genetic variant of FTO, such as rs9939609, is predisposed to higher fat mass. Nutritional intake in adolescence is an important factor to optimize growth spurt and maintain health status. The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics of fat mass associated with rs9939609 FTO polymorphism, macronutrient intake, and nutritional status parameters in early adolescence. A total of 192 early adolescents aged 10–14 years were genotyped for rs9939609 polymorphism, underwent body composition and anthropometric measurements, and were asked about their eating pattern of macronutrients. A bivariate analysis showed significant differences in fat mass based on gender (p: 0,003), height (p: 0,05), and body mass index (p: 0,00), and non-significant differences based on rs9939609 FTO polymorphism (p: 0,89), energy intake (P: 0,94), and protein intake (p: 0,2). The result indicated that gender, BMI, height, and protein intake had an influence on fat mass. Hormonal influence in early adolescence increased fat deposition in females. Body height affected body composition because of differences in skeletal and muscle mass. There was no influence of the rs9939609 FTO gene variant between races, although FTO had the highest risk allele among other genetic factors predisposed to fat deposition. Genetic and environmental factors had an influence on fat mass. As a result, it became important to analyze other obesity-related genetic and environmental factors because many indirect correlations were found between chronic disease, genetic characteristic, adolescent sedentary lifestyle, and long-term comorbidity.
Keywords: fat mass, early adolescence, height, BMI, nutritional intake, 9939609 FTO polymorphism
