Genetic predisposition to obesity can stimulate an increase in adiposity throughout adulthood. However, the interaction between genetic factors and dietary habits may modify the genetic association with obesity. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the dietary patterns that influence the genetic risk of obesity in a Korean population using a large cohort study and genome-wide association study.

Prospective cohort study.

The genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated based on six identified single nucleotide polymorphisms of the OTOL1, NMBR, DNAJB9, ASCC1, NT5C2, and FTO genes associated with obesity, as ascertained by body mass index. Dietary patterns were determined using food intake data from a food frequency questionnaire and factor analysis.

This study included data from 8,458 adults aged 40-69 years from the Ansan and Ansung cohorts of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

The refined carbohydrate dietary pattern showed a significant inverse association with obesity in the highest GRS group with a non-significant interactive association (odds ratio [OR], 0.801; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.662–‒0.969; P for trend = 0.0251, P for interaction = 0.571). However, participants with the highest refined carbohydrate dietary pattern score and highest GRS had an increased prevalence of obesity (OR: 1.288, 95% CI: 1.068‒1.554, P for trend = 0.0251) compared with the prevalence of those with the lowest dietary pattern score and GRS.

Reducing refined carbohydrate consumption may be helpful for Korean adults with a greater genetic susceptibility to obesity.