Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41957874›Full record

ArticleJournal of health, population, and nutrition2026

Obesity, physical activity, and gene-environment interactions: a natural experiment framework.

Lei Liu, Xuxiu Zhuang, Haonan Zhou, Yanan Ma, Gengrun Sun, Yang Liu, Deliang Wen

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Lei LiuHealth Sciences Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning Province, PR China.
Xuxiu ZhuangHealth Sciences Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning Province, PR China.
Haonan ZhouHealth Sciences Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning Province, PR China.
Yanan MaHealth Sciences Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning Province, PR China.
Gengrun SunSchool of Life Sciences and Health, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266113, Shandong Province, PR China.
Yang LiuHealth Sciences Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning Province, PR China. yliu0568@cmu.edu.cn.
Deliang WenHealth Sciences Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning Province, PR China. dlwen@cmu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82304173Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province ZR2023QH130, ZR2024MH239
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObesity results from the interaction of polygenic susceptibility and environmental factors. Given this complex etiology, physical activity (PA) remains a cornerstone of cost-effective intervention strategies. This longitudinal natural experiment investigated how PA modifies the effects of genetic predisposition on obesity in Chinese youth.

methodsWe conducted a 4-year natural experiment leveraging curriculum-driven PA disparities in a specialized arts school (n = 591), creating distinct high-PA (HPA) and low-PA (LPA) exposure groups. Weighted genetic risk scores (WGRSs) were calculated from 13 Asian-derived obesity-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Annual anthropometric, metabolic, and lifestyle data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models to assess gene-PA interactions on obesity.

resultsThe WGRS predicted baseline obesity measures, with each unit increase associated with a 0.21-kg/m² higher BMI. Over the natural experiment period, BMI increases in the HPA group were smaller than in the LPA group. After adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and dietary factors, significant WGRS-PA interactions were observed for BMI trajectories. Participants with higher genetic risk for obesity experienced greater BMI and weight reduction benefits from sustained long-term PA.

conclusionsIn summary, the present study identified a significant interaction effect between PA levels and WGRS in modifying BMI trajectories. Genetic susceptibility significantly modifies the protective effects of long-term PA on BMI progression in this cohort of Chinese youth.

Indexed as

ExerciseGene-Environment InteractionPediatric ObesityAdolescentBody Mass IndexChildChinaEast Asian PeopleFemaleGenetic Risk ScoreHumansLongitudinal StudiesMalePolymorphism, Single NucleotideChildren and adolescentsGene–environment interactionGenetic susceptibilityOverweight and obesityPhysical activity

Identifiers

PMID41957874
PMCPMC13262356

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.