Relationship between calorie intake, physical activity, and dopamine D2 receptor Taq1A gene polymorphism in normal-weight, overweight, and obese students of the faculty of medicine of university of Sumatera Utara

Introduction: Obesity is one of the risk factors that cause degenerative diseases such as diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and hypertension. The cause of obesity is an imbalance of energy between consumed calories and expended calories in a long term influenced by environmental and genetic factors. The aim of this study is to see the relationship between calorie intake, physical activity, and dopamine D2 receptor Taq1A (DRD2 Taq1A) gene polymorphism in normal-weight, overweight, and obese students of the Faculty of Medicine of University of Sumatera, Utara. Research Design and Methods: Data of calorie intake were taken by an interview using 24-hour food recall questionnaire. Body weight and height measurement are taken using digital scales and microtoise. Physical activity is measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. DRD2 gene Taq1A polymorphism was visualized with 3% agarose gel after RFLP was digested with Taq1 restriction enzyme. Results: Our study included 48 normal-weight, 16 overweight, and 75 obese students. HWE analysis yielded a significance of p 0.05 in normal-weight, overweight, and obese students. There is a relationship between calorie intake, physical activity, and dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene Taq1A polymorphism in normal-weight, overweight, and obese students (p = 0.011, p = 0.032, p = 0.004). Conclusion: Calorie intake, physical activity, and DRD2 Taq1A gene polymorphism modulate overweight and obesity in students’ of the Faculty of Medicine of University of Sumatera Utara, with equilibrium population from time to time in this subjects.