Hormonal
DNA methylation changes at loci such as CPT1A and ABCG1 are associated not just with current BMI, but with BMI change over time, suggesting these epigenetic markers may reflect dynamic metabolic history rather than just static adiposity.
Your body's epigenetic 'record' includes your history of weight gain or loss, not just your current size. This suggests that past weight fluctuations leave a lasting biological mark. While this doesn't change immediate dietary advice, it highlights the importance of sustainable weight management to avoid negative epigenetic impacts from yo-yo dieting or prolonged obesity.
showing that numerous novel methylation loci identified in our study do not only index current weight status or its correlates but may also be involved in changes in body weight over time.
Why this rating
Replicated in multiple cohorts; specific focus on longitudinal change.
Source
Epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of BMI, BMI change and waist circumference in African American adults identifies multiple replicated loci
Ellen W. Demerath et al. · Human Molecular Genetics · 2015
DOI 10.1093/hmg/ddv161
More from this paper
- Higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are significantly associated with altered DNA methylation levels at specific genomic loci (including CPT1A, ABCG1, and HIF3A) in leukocytes, and these epigenetic signatures replicate across different ethnicities and tissue types, suggesting a biological link between adiposity and gene regulation.Good
- The association between obesity and DNA methylation at loci like HIF3A is not universal across all populations; specifically, HIF3A methylation associated with BMI in African Americans and European adults did not replicate in White replication cohorts (FHS/GOLDN) in this study.Good
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