{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T05:04:58Z","timestamp":1784264698948,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784246400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Nutr."],"abstract":"\n Introduction<\/jats:title>\n Metabolic disorders such as obesity and insulin resistance result from complex interactions between genetic, behavioral, and dietary factors. The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene has been repeatedly linked to impaired appetite control and higher obesity risk, yet the moderating role of functional dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet remain unclear. Rich in bioactive compounds and metabolic benefits, this diet offers a model for studying gene\u2013diet interactions in metabolic health.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objectives<\/jats:title>\n This pilot investigation aimed to provide an integrative perspective linking the FTO rs9939609 genotype with eating-related emotions, habitual behavior, and adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet in women with different body weight profiles.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n \n This pilot study examined associations between the FTO rs9939609 genotype, eating behaviors, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among 46 women aged 18\u201335\u202fyears (normal weight:\n n<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f24; overweight or obesity:\n n<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f22). Eating behaviors were assessed with the Questionnaire of Eating-Related Behaviors (QERB), and diet quality was evaluated using the Mediterranean Pyramid (MedPyr) index. Genotyping was performed by Sanger sequencing.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n Women with overweight or obesity showed higher BMI (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f&lt;\u202f0.001) and greater habitual overeating (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.007), particularly among FTO AT\/AA carriers with overweight or obesity. Total QERB scores were higher in both TT (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.037) and AT\/AA (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.005) subgroups. No significant genotype- or BMI-related differences were observed in overall MedPyr adherence. However, AT\/AA carriers with overweight or obesity reported more frequent vegetable intake (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.037), while AT\/AA controls consumed eggs more often (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.015).\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n Adherence to the Mediterranean diet, a functional dietary pattern rich in polyphenols, fiber, and unsaturated fats, may interact with genetic predispositions related to obesity risk. These exploratory findings suggest that dietary context may shape behavioral tendencies in FTO risk-allele carriers, although confirmation in larger samples is required.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2026.1771565","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T04:22:54Z","timestamp":1784262174000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["FTO rs9939609 genotype and behavioral determinants of Mediterranean diet adherence in young women: exploratory insights into potential metabolic relevance"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Ma\u0142gorzata","family":"Obara-Go\u0142\u0119biowska","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn","place":["Olsztyn, Poland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Katarzyna Eufemia","family":"Przyby\u0142owicz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn","place":["Olsztyn, Poland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anna","family":"Danielewicz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn","place":["Olsztyn, Poland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tomasz","family":"Sawicki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn","place":["Olsztyn, Poland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"889","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1141634","article-title":"A common variant in the FTO gene is associated with body mass index and predisposes to childhood and adult obesity","volume":"316","author":"Frayling","year":"2007","journal-title":"Science (New York, NY)"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1007\/s13679-015-0143-1","article-title":"The 'fat mass and obesity related' (FTO) gene: mechanisms of impact on obesity and energy balance","volume":"4","author":"Speakman","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr Obes Rep"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1038\/s41576-021-00414-z","article-title":"The genetics of obesity: from discovery to biology","volume":"23","author":"Loos","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nat Rev Genet"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1186\/s40246-024-00570-3","article-title":"A genomics perspective of personalized prevention and management of obesity","volume":"18","author":"Gkouskou","year":"2024","journal-title":"Hum Genomics"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2558","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa0803839","article-title":"An obesity-associated FTO gene variant and increased energy intake in children","volume":"359","author":"Cecil","year":"2008","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcn\/nqx029","article-title":"FTO genotype impacts food intake and corticolimbic activation","volume":"107","author":"Melhorn","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am J Clin Nutr"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"447","DOI":"10.1037\/bul0000044","article-title":"Neural vulnerability factors that increase risk for future weight gain","volume":"142","author":"Stice","year":"2016","journal-title":"Psychol Bull"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25618","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-77004-6","article-title":"Association of FTO variants rs9939609 and rs1421085 with elevated sugar and fat consumption in adult obesity","volume":"14","author":"Poosri","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3130","DOI":"10.3390\/nu6083130","article-title":"Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene polymorphisms are associated with physical activity, food intake, eating behaviors, psychological health, and modeled change in body mass index in overweight\/obese Caucasian adults","volume":"6","author":"Harbron","year":"2014","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.3390\/nu11020377","article-title":"Eating Behaviours and food cravings; influence of age, sex, BMI and FTO genotype","volume":"11","author":"Abdella","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"214","DOI":"10.1159\/000534741","article-title":"FTO genotypes (rs9939609 T>a) are associated with increased added sugar intake in healthy young adults","volume":"16","author":"Madrigal-Juarez","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lifestyle Genom"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1126","DOI":"10.3945\/ajcn.113.082164","article-title":"FTO genotype, dietary protein, and change in appetite: the preventing overweight using novel dietary strategies trial","volume":"99","author":"Huang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Am J Clin Nutr"},{"key":"ref13","first-page":"5","article-title":"The role of macronutrient intake in reducing the risk of obesity and overweight among carriers of different polymorphisms of FTO gene. A review","volume":"68","author":"Przeliorz-Pyszczek","year":"2017","journal-title":"Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e4594","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0004594","article-title":"Dietary energy density affects fat mass in early adolescence and is not modified by FTO variants","volume":"4","author":"Johnson","year":"2009","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4080","DOI":"10.1080\/10408398.2024.2382346","article-title":"Effect of FTO genotype on exercise training and diet-indued weight loss in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"65","author":"Rahimi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2953","DOI":"10.1007\/s00394-022-02858-3","article-title":"Associations between dietary patterns, FTO genotype and obesity in adults from seven European countries","volume":"61","author":"Livingstone","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur J Nutr"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.3390\/genes13030420","article-title":"Mediterranean diet and genetic determinants of obesity and metabolic syndrome in European children and adolescents","volume":"13","author":"Seral-Cortes","year":"2022","journal-title":"Genes"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e23489","DOI":"10.1002\/ajhb.23489","article-title":"The interaction between FTO rs9939609 and physical activity is associated with a 2-fold reduction in the risk of obesity in Korean population","volume":"33","author":"Cho","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Hum Biol"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.1007\/s10608-014-9655-3","article-title":"Emotion regulation difficulties and maladaptive behaviors: examination of deliberate self-harm, disordered eating, and substance misuse in two samples","volume":"39","author":"Buckholdt","year":"2015","journal-title":"Cogn Ther Res"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1421870","DOI":"10.3389\/fgene.2024.1421870","article-title":"Association between personality traits, eating behaviors, and the genetic polymorphisms FTO-rs9939609 and MAO-A 30 bp u-VNTR with obesity in Mexican Mayan children","volume":"15","author":"V\u00e1zquez-P\u00e9rez","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Genet"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0314942","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0314942","article-title":"Body mass as a result of psychological, lifestyle and genetic determinants. A pilot study involving overweight\/obese and normal weight women in their early adulthood","volume":"19","author":"Obara-Go\u0142\u0119biowska","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"581","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16050581","article-title":"Precision nutrition unveiled: gene-nutrient interactions, microbiota dynamics, and lifestyle factors in obesity management","volume":"16","author":"Mansour","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref23","volume-title":"Psychology of Excessive Eating","author":"Ogi\u0144ska-Bulik","year":"2006"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2696","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14132696","article-title":"The 72-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (72-item SQ-FFQ) for polish young adults: reproducibility and relative validity","volume":"14","author":"Kowalkowska","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2274","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980011002515","article-title":"Mediterranean diet pyramid today. Science and cultural updates","volume":"14","author":"Bach-Faig","year":"2011","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-016-0677-4","article-title":"Prospective association of the Mediterranean diet with cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality and its population impact in a non-Mediterranean population: the EPIC-Norfolk study","volume":"14","author":"Tong","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-018-1082-y","article-title":"Nordic diet, Mediterranean diet, and the risk of chronic diseases: the EPIC-Potsdam study","volume":"16","author":"Galbete","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1007\/s44411-025-00399-9","article-title":"Genetic analysis of the rs9939609 FTO gene associated with obesity, body composition and physical activity levels in women","volume":"127","author":"\u0160lebodov\u00e1","year":"2025","journal-title":"Bratisl Lek Listy"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"395","DOI":"10.26402\/jpp.2022.3.07","article-title":"Independent association of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism with overweight and obesity in polish adults. Results from the representative population-based WOBASZ study","volume":"73","author":"Piwonska","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Physiol Pharmacol"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"787","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare12070787","article-title":"FTO rs9939609: T>a variant and physical inactivity as important risk factors for class III obesity: a cross-sectional study","volume":"12","author":"Mart\u00ednez-L\u00f3pez","year":"2024","journal-title":"Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6949","DOI":"10.1523\/JNEUROSCI.4365-15.2016","article-title":"Gain in body fat is associated with increased striatal response to palatable food cues, whereas body fat stability is associated with decreased striatal response","volume":"36","author":"Stice","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Neurosci Off J Soc Neurosci"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.3390\/nu12010052","article-title":"Changes in food cravings and eating behavior after a dietary carbohydrate restriction intervention trial","volume":"12","author":"Anguah","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2018\/7560707","article-title":"Effect of obesity-linked FTO rs9939609 variant on physical activity and dietary patterns in physically active men and women","volume":"2018","author":"West","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Obes"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Nutrition"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnut.2026.1771565\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T04:22:55Z","timestamp":1784262175000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnut.2026.1771565\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"references-count":33,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fnut.2026.1771565"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnut.2026.1771565","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-861X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-861X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]]},"article-number":"1771565"}}