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Cited by 1,515Genetic Associations and EpidemiologyGenetics and Physical PerformanceObesity, Physical Activity, Diet

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 109 of the 113 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Genetic and Environmental Factors in Relative Body Weight and Human Adiposity

Maes, Hermine H. M., Neale, Michael C., Eaves, Lindon J.·1997·Behavior Genetics
DOI 10.1023/a:1025635913927
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Abstract

We review the literature on the familial resemblance of body mass index (BMI) and other adiposity measures and find strikingly convergent results for a variety of relationships. Results from twin studies suggest that genetic factors explain 50 to 90% of the variance in BMI. Family studies generally report estimates of parent-offspring and sibling correlations in agreement with heritabilities of 20 to 80%. Data from adoption studies are consistent with genetic factors accounting for 20 to 60% of the variation in BMI. Based on data from more than 25,000 twin pairs and 50,000 biological and adoptive family members, the weighted mean correlations are .74 for MZ twins, .32 for DZ twins, .25 for siblings, .19 for parent-offspring pairs, .06 for adoptive relatives, and .12 for spouses. Advantages and disadvantages of twin, family, and adoption studies are reviewed. Data from the Virginia 30,000, including twins and their parents, siblings, spouses, and children, were analyzed using a structural equation model (Stealth) which estimates additive and dominance genetic variance, cultural transmission, assortative mating, nonparental shared environment, and special twin and MZ twin environmental variance. Genetic factors explained 67% of the variance in males and females, of which half is due to dominance. A small proportion of the genetic variance was attributed to the consequences of assortative mating. The remainder of the variance is accounted for by unique environmental factors, of which 7% is correlated across twins. No evidence was found for a special MZ twin environment, thereby supporting the equal environment assumption. These results are consistent with other studies in suggesting that genetic factors play a significant role in the causes of individual differences in relative body weight and human adiposity.

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Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. Allison, D. B. (1995). Methodological issues in obesity research: Examples from biometrical genetics. In VanItallie, T. B., and Simopoulos, A. P. (eds.), Obesity. New Directions in Assessment and Management, Charles Press, Philadelphia, pp. 122–132.
  2. Bouchard, C. (1987). Genetics of body fat, energy expenditure and adipose tissue metabolism. In Blondheim, B., and Shafrir, E. (eds.), Recent Advances in Obesity Research V, J. Libby, London.
  3. Bouchard, C., and Pérusse, L. (1993). Genetic aspects of obesity. In Williams, C. L., and Kimm, S. Y. S. (eds.), Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 699), New York Academy of Sciences, New York, pp. 26–35.
  4. Bouchard, C., and Pérusse, L. (1994). Genetics of obesity: Family studies. In Bouchard, C. (ed.), The Genetics of Obesity, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 79–92.
  5. Eaves, L. J., Heath, A. C., and Martin, N. G. (1997). Comparing the biological and cultural inheritance of stature and conservatism in the kinships of monozygotic and dizygotic twins. In Cloninger, C. R. (ed.), Proceedings of 1994 APPA Conference (in press).
  6. Maes, H. (1992). Univariate and Multivariate Genetic Analysis of Physical Characteristics of Twins and Parents, Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven.
  7. Meyer, J. M., and Stunkard, A. J. (1994). Twin studies of human obesity. In Bouchard, C. (ed.), The Genetics of Obesity, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 63–78.
  8. Meyer, J. M., Silberg, J. L., Eaves, L. J., Maes, H. H., Simonoff, E., Pickles, A., Rutter, M. L., and Hewitt, J. K. (1996). Variable age of gene expression: Implications for developmental genetic models. In LaBuda, M. C., and Grigorenko, E. L. (eds.), On the Way to Individuality: Current Methodological Issues in Behavioral Genetics, Progress Publishers, Moscow (in press).
  9. Neale, M. C. (1995). Mx: Statistical Modeling, 3rd ed., Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.
  10. Sorensen, T. I. A. (1995). Adoption studies of obesity. In Bray, G. A., and Ryan, D. H. (eds.), Molecular and Genetic Aspects of Obesity, Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, pp. 462–469.
  11. Sorensen, T. I. A., and Stunkard, A. J. (1994). Overview of the adoption studies. In Bouchard, C. (ed.), The Genetics of Obesity, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 49–61.

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Metadata

Authors
Maes, H. H. M., Neale, M. C., & Eaves, L. J.
Affiliations
Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
Corresponding author
Maes, Hermine H. M.
ORCID
Venue
Behavior Genetics
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1997-07
Volume
27
Issue
4
Pages
325-351
ISSN
  • 0001-8244 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-3297
DOI
10.1023/a:1025635913927
OpenAlex
W1546792714
Cited by
1,515
References
113
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 54 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 63 · 2016: 67 · 2015: 79 · 2014: 73 · 2013: 92 · 2012: 95
FWCI
5.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Behavior Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • John Templeton Foundation
  • Vlaamse regering
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01rr008123-02)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH45268, R01MH045268)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR-08123)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Physical Performance
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Keywords
body mass index, heritability, twin studies, family studies, adoption studies, familial resemblance, dominance variance, additive genetic variance, assortative mating, cultural transmission, relative body weight
MeSH terms
Adoption, Adult, Body Weight, Child, Diseases in Twins, Female, Humans, Male, Obesity, Social Environment, Body Mass Index, Twin Studies as Topic

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