Obesity is an escalating problem in Malaysia, a developing Asian country experiencing a rapid nutrition transition. Childhood obesity is a complex multi-faceted phenomenon attributed to both genetic and environmental factors, which should be simultaneously examined. Yet current evidence related to major determinants of childhood obesity in Malaysia is limited, and in this context of obesity, the Malaysian children’s genomic profiles interacting with their environment are under-explored. The exact mechanisms of associations between genetic variations and taste receptors to the risk of obesity and chronic disease, which can occur through differences in taste perception, food preferences, and food intake remain unclear.

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the genetic variations in taste and food preferences of Malay children with differing weight statuses. To accomplish the objectives, a cohort case-control study is proposed to be conducted over a two-year period with 4-data points among the Malay children aged 9-12 years of differing weight status to collect data on genetic (obesity and taste sensitivity) and environmental (taste preference, food preference, food intake, and physical activity) that are hypothesized to impact upon the children’s body weight status and health risks.

This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the International Medical University (IMU R 284-2022) and has received the funding from the Ministry of the Higher Education of Malaysia (FRGS/1/2022/SKK06/IMU/02/2).