Sex-differential associations of BMI polygenic scores in youth with the double burden of malnutrition

ObjectiveTo examine associations of BMI-related polygenic scores (PGSs) with BMI-for-age z-score (BMIz), height-for-age z-score (HAZ), and weight; assess sex-specific effects; and test PGS-by-diet interactions in youth experiencing the double burden of malnutrition. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study of Filipino youth aged 6-19 years, we analyzed genome-wide genotype, anthropometric, and dietary data from two 24-hour recalls. Four ancestry-standardized BMI PGSs were evaluated using linear regression adjusted for age, sex, and ancestry principal components, with platform-specific estimates combined by fixed-effects meta-analysis. ResultsAll four PGSs were positively associated with BMIz ({b