Associations between family taxa abundance and obesity in children from Galápagos, Ecuador

Aberrant changes in microbiota have been linked to adult obesity, however little is known about the association between obesity and the microbiome in children. In this study we analyzed fecal samples obtained from children in Galápagos, Ecuador using 16S rRNA gene-targeted sequencing. Children aged 2-11 were classified as normal weight, overweight, or obese by BMI z-score. We compared differences in family taxa abundance and found Porphyromonadaceae, Aerococcaceae, Propionibacteriaceae, and Corynebacteriaceae were overall negatively associated with BMI z-score. Ruminococcaceae was positively associated with BMI z-score. Next, we examined how the association of BMI z-score and family taxa differed by age group and sex. The negative association between BMI z-score and Aerococcaceae and Propionibacteriaceae was significant when making distinctions by sex and the positive association between BMI z-score and Ruminococcaceae by age group. Our results suggest associations between family taxa and BMI z-score in children are sensitive to age group and sex.Master of Public Healt