Kilpeläinen, T. O.Sekine, A.Yajnik, C. S.Takeuchi, F.Yamamoto, K.Mani, K. R.Been, L. F.Imamura, M.Nakashima, E.Fujisawa, T.Karasawa, S.Joglekar, C. V.Fall, C. H. D.Sham, P. C.Shu, X.Deng, H.Ikegami, H.Krishnaveni, G. V.Sanghera, D. K.Chuang, L.Daimon, M.Hotta, K.Kooner, J. S.Chandak, G. R.Maeda, S.Dorajoo, R.Yokota, M.Takayanagi, R.Loos, R. J. F.Song, YiqingLi, H.Liu, C.Zhu, J.Liu, Y.Hu, C.Yang, Z.Zhang, W.Bao, W.Cha, S.Wu, Y.Yang, T.Choi, B. Y.Zhou, D.Chan, J. C.Lee, N.Wen, W.Lu, W.Chang, Y.Xiang, Y.Gao, Y.Liu, S.Kwak, S. H.Shin, H. D.Park, K. S.Kim, J. Y.Lam, K. S. L.Zheng, W.Liu, L.Hu, R.Kim, Y.Jia, W.Chambers, J. C.Ma, R. C.Kato, N.Lin, X.2012-08-102012Li, H., T. O. Kilpeläinen, C. Liu, J. Zhu, Y. Liu, C. Hu, Z. Yang, et al. 2012. Association of genetic variation in \(FTO\) with risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes with data from 96,551 East and South Asians. Diabetologia 55(4): 981-995.0012-186Xhttp://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:9393249Aims/hypothesis: \(FTO\) harbours the strongest known obesity-susceptibility locus in Europeans. While there is growing evidence for a role for \(FTO\) in obesity risk in Asians, its association with type 2 diabetes, independently of BMI, remains inconsistent. To test whether there is an association of the \(FTO\) locus with obesity and type 2 diabetes, we conducted a meta-analysis of 32 populations including 96,551 East and South Asians. Methods: All studies published on the association between \(FTO\)-rs9939609 (or proxy [r\(^2\) > 0.98]) and BMI, obesity or type 2 diabetes in East or South Asians were invited. Each study group analysed their data according to a standardised analysis plan. Association with type 2 diabetes was also adjusted for BMI. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to pool all effect sizes. Results: The \(FTO\)-rs9939609 minor allele increased risk of obesity by 1.25-fold/allele (p = 9.0 × 10\(^{−19}\)), overweight by 1.13-fold/allele (p = 1.0 × 10\(^{−11}\)) and type 2 diabetes by 1.15-fold/allele (p = 5.5 × 10\(^{−8}\)). The association with type 2 diabetes was attenuated after adjustment for BMI (OR 1.10-fold/allele, p = 6.6 × 10\(^{−5}\)). The \(FTO\)-rs9939609 minor allele increased BMI by 0.26 kg/m2 per allele (p = 2.8 × 10\(^{−17}\)), WHR by 0.003/allele (p = 1.2 × 10\(^{−6}\)), and body fat percentage by 0.31%/allele (p = 0.0005). Associations were similar using dominant models. While the minor allele is less common in East Asians (12–20%) than South Asians (30–33%), the effect of \(FTO\) variation on obesity-related traits and type 2 diabetes was similar in the two populations. Conclusions/interpretation: \(FTO\) is associated with increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, with effect sizes similar in East and South Asians and similar to those observed in Europeans. Furthermore, \(FTO\) is also associated with type 2 diabetes independently of BMI. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00125-011-2370-7) contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.en-USAsiansFTOmeta-analysisobesitytype 2 diabetesJournal Article2012-08-1010.1007/s00125-011-2370-7