Exploring Molecular Genetics Research on Obesity in Malaysia: Protocol for a Scoping Review
Authors: Ahmad Zamri Liyana , Abu Seman Norhashimah , Zainal Abidin Nur Azlin , Hamzah Siti Sarah 
Published: December 2024

Background

Obesity presents a growing challenge to public health, and its intricate association with genetics continues to be a compelling field of study. In countries such as Malaysia, where diverse genetic backgrounds converge, exploring the molecular genetics of obesity is even more imperative.

Objective

This scoping review aimed to explore the literature on molecular genetics of obesity in Malaysia. Specifically, we sought to characterize existing studies, identify the genetic determinants of obesity, and assess their association with obesity predisposition in the population.

Methods

This scoping review followed the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute and used the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist as its guiding framework. Searches were conducted using electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus, filtering for human studies published until March 2024. Eligible studies included peer-reviewed articles on the Malaysian population irrespective of age or sex. This review excluded review articles, book chapters, non–peer-reviewed conference proceedings, gray literature, and preclinical studies, and the reference lists of the retrieved studies were manually examined to ensure thorough inclusion. The articles were subjected to a 2-stage screening process (title/abstract and full text) conducted by 2 reviewers to assess eligibility. Eligible articles were then extracted following a data extraction framework and organized into a charting table. Only studies investigating the genetics of obesity in Malaysian populations were included.

Results

As of March 2024, our extensive search strategy has yielded 572 records. After removing 153 duplicates, 419 records were screened by title and abstract, resulting in 47 selected for full-text review. Of these, 34 were chosen for data extraction and detailed analysis. These studies predominantly involved participants from major ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese, and Indian) recruited from local health centers and university communities. The articles primarily explored the relationship between specific gene variants and obesity or obesity-related health parameters. This ongoing research is expected to be completed with a comprehensive scoping review by April 2025.

Conclusions

This review provides valuable insights into the genetic determinants of obesity in Malaysia, despite limitations such as no quality appraisal being conducted for the included studies and the search strategy being restricted to selected databases, potentially omitting relevant studies. However, this review ensured reliability and reproducibility by adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Ultimately, this study advances the understanding of local research and sets the foundation for future molecular genetic studies to improve obesity risk prediction and management in Malaysia’s multiethnic population.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/60838