Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 21: In a major scientific advance, researchers have developed a polygenic risk score (PGS) that can predict a child’s risk of obesity by age 5, potentially revolutionising early health interventions.

Published in Nature Medicine, the international study—led by over 600 scientists from 500 institutions—combines genetic data from over five million people to create a powerful risk-prediction tool for obesity.

“What makes this score so powerful is its ability to predict obesity well before other risk factors emerge,” said lead author Roelof Smit, Assistant Professor at the University of Copenhagen’s CBMR.

The new PGS tool significantly outperforms earlier versions, doubling prediction accuracy, especially for individuals of European ancestry. However, researchers acknowledge it is less accurate for people of African ancestry, highlighting the need for more inclusive genomic datasets.

The World Obesity Federation warns that over half the global population could be overweight or obese by 2035. Early detection using PGS could enable lifestyle interventions—like diet and exercise—at a much younger age.

Interestingly, the study found that individuals with a high genetic risk were more responsive to interventions, but also more likely to regain weight once those interventions stopped.

“This score brings us closer to clinically useful genetic testing,” said co-author Professor Ruth Loos.

While not without limitations, the new tool offers a crucial step forward in personalised medicine and could reshape how childhood obesity is detected and managed worldwide.