The DOI matches its Crossref record; 64 of the 64 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Learning one’s genetic risk changes physiology independent of actual genetic risk
Open accessAbstract
Millions of people now access personal genetic risk estimates for diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer and obesity 1. While this information can be informative 2-4, research on placebo and nocebo effects 5-8 suggests that learning of one's genetic risk may evoke physiological changes consistent with the expected risk profile. Here we tested whether merely learning of one's genetic risk for disease alters one's actual risk by making people more likely to exhibit the expected changes in gene-related physiology, behaviour and subjective experience. Individuals were genotyped for actual genetic risk and then randomly assigned to receive either a 'high-risk' or 'protected' genetic test result for obesity via cardiorespiratory exercise capacity (experiment 1, N = 116) or physiological satiety (experiment 2, N = 107) before engaging in a task in which genetic risk was salient. Merely receiving genetic risk information changed individuals' cardiorespiratory physiology, perceived exertion and running endurance during exercise, and changed satiety physiology and perceived fullness after food consumption in a self-fulfilling manner. Effects of perceived genetic risk on outcomes were sometimes greater than the effects associated with actual genetic risk. If simply conveying genetic risk information can alter actual risk, clinicians and ethicists should wrestle with appropriate thresholds for when revealing genetic risk is warranted.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Some of the effects relevant here might also arise from natural scientific generalizations (for example, that endocrine disrupters cause infertility).However, the underlying social psychological processes are likely to be distinct; see also(Turnwald et al. [2019]).”
From Science Communication and the Problematic Impact of Descriptive Norms (2023) · cites this paper as Turnwald et al. [2019]
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Moreover, these effects don't necessarily take much time to unfold but can happen swiftly in a single interaction (e.g., in interview settings; Word et al. 1974) right after the ascription (Turnwald et al. 2018: 49).”
From What Is the Function of Confirmation Bias? (2022) · cites this paper as Turnwald et al. 2018
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Genetics of Food Intake Self-Regulation in Childhood: Literature Review and Research Opportunities
Faith, M. S., Carnell, S., & Kral, T. V. E. (2013) · Human Heredity · doi:10.1159/000353879 · Cited by 7,633
Lippa, N. C., & Sanderson, S. C. (2013) · Human Heredity · doi:10.1159/000353712 · Cited by 6,095
Frayling, T. M., Timpson, N. J., Weedon, M. N., Zeggini, E., Freathy, R. M., Lindgren, C. M., Perry, J. R. B., Elliott, K. S., Lango, H., Rayner, N. W., et al. (2007) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1141634 · Cited by 4,531
The Physiology of Glucagon-like Peptide 1
Holst, J. J. (2007) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.00034.2006 · Cited by 3,371
Ghrelin enhances appetite and increases food intake in humans
Wren, A. M., Seal, L. J., Cohen, M. A., Brynes, A. E., Frost, G. S., Murphy, K. G., Dhillo, W. S., Ghatei, M. A., & Bloom, S. R. (2001) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jcem.86.12.8111 · Cited by 2,494
A role for glucagon-like peptide-1 in the central regulation of feeding
Turton, M. D., O'Shea, D., Gunn, I., Beak, S. A., Edwards, C. M. B., Meeran, K., Choi, S. J., Taylor, G. M., Heath, M. M., Lambert, P. D., et al. (1996) · Nature · doi:10.1038/379069a0 · Cited by 1,950
Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging
Levy, B. R., Slade, M. D., Kunkel, S. R., & Kasl, S. V. (2002) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.83.2.261 · Cited by 1,508
Glucagon-like peptide 1 promotes satiety and suppresses energy intake in humans.
Flint, A., Raben, A., Astrup, A., & Holst, J. J. (1998) · Journal of Clinical Investigation · doi:10.1172/jci990 · Cited by 1,402
Effect of VKORC1 Haplotypes on Transcriptional Regulation and Warfarin Dose
Rieder, M. J., Reiner, A. P., Gage, B. F., Nickerson, D. A., Eby, C. S., McLeod, H. L., Blough, D. K., Thummel, K. E., Veenstra, D. L., & Rettie, A. E. (2005) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa044503 · Cited by 1,391
Biological, clinical, and ethical advances of placebo effects
Finniss, D. G., Kaptchuk, T. J., Miller, F. G., & Benedetti, F. (2010) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(09)61706-2 · Cited by 1,309
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–142 of 142
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.005
Genes and Environments in Human Development
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.004
Genes, Personality and Personality Disorders
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.008
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.006
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.013
Genetic placebo effect on psychological resilience_the moderating role of self-compassionPreprint
Tan, H., Li, T., Huang, N., Duan, Q., Fan, L., Yu, M., Wang, J., Gese, D. N. A., & Luo, S. (2021) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/8jk3r
Man Influences His Biology: How World Views Shape the Future
Gründer, G. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-64225-2_7
Genes, Religiosity and Political Commitment
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.010
Genes, Education and Intelligence
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.007
Louhiala, P. (2020) · The International Library of Bioethics · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-27329-3_3
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.012
Genes, Food, Exercise and Weight
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.009
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.002
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.016
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.001
Islamic Sunni perspectives on the ethics of precision medicine
Suleman, M. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863465.003.0017
Personalized medicine and disorders of consciousness
Fins, J. J. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863465.003.0010
The revolution of personalized medicine is already upon us in rare diseases
Austin, C. P. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863465.003.0009
Gender and personalized medicine
Legato, M. J. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863465.003.0011
Personalized medicine and genetic newborn screening
Brusa, M., & Dickenson, D. L. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863465.003.0008
Genetics, genetic profiles, and Jewish law
Weissinger, Y., & Barilan, Y. M. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863465.003.0018
Precision and persons in medicine
Barilan, Y. M., & Brusa, M. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863465.003.0001
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.017
Alexander, D. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108566520.014
Predictive Modeling Approaches
Barbey, A. K., Karama, S., & Haier, R. J. (2021) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108635462.020
Evolusjonær eller epistemisk diskordans? Steinalderdiettens mange ansikt
Øvretveit, K. (2022) · Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring · doi:10.18261/ntfe.20.2.2
A conceptual framework for adaptive personalized nutrition advice systems (APNASs)Preprint
Renner, B., Buyken, A. E., Gedrich, K., Stefan Lorkowski, A., Watzl, B., Linseisen, J., & Daniel, H. (2022) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/bd73f
(2023) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/15380.003.0024
Hathaway, L., & O'Shields, B. (2023) · ACSMʼs Health & Fitness Journal · doi:10.1249/fit.0000000000000909
The borderline effect for diabetes: when no difference makes a difference
Aungle, P. J., & Langer, E. J. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1333248
Barilan, Y. M. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863465.002.0005
Barilan, Y. M., Brusa, M., & Ciechanover, A. J. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863465.002.0006
Barilan, Y. M., Brusa, M., & Ciechanover, A. J. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198863465.002.0003
Exploratory study of nocebo effect in senior medical students
Pischos, C., Politis, A. M., Sfikakis, P. P., & Papageorgiou, C. (2024) · Health Psychology Research · doi:10.52965/001c.117645
The Placebo Effect of the Medical Word
Deza, E. G. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-62446-9_3
Brumbaugh, J. T. (2024) · The Research Repository @ WVU (West Virginia University) · doi:10.33915/etd.12544
Yue, Q., Yun, D., Liu, J., & Mao, Z. (2024) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2024.11.06.24316473
Precision Medicine’s Ethical Challenges
Parker, L. S. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190069964.013.0028
Chaves, E. A., & Kunkler, E. C. (2025) · Obesity Pillars · doi:10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100227
Haveman, Y. R. A., Jin, V., & van Dongen, J. D. M. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1834659
Gray, D., & Kiely, J. (2026) · Frontiers in Sports and Active Living · doi:10.3389/fspor.2026.1827074
Effects of bogus genetic feedback on subjective and physiological responses to acute stress
Vogel, S., Barthel, M.-C., Fricke, K., Muehlhan, M., & Alexander, N. (2026) · Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.cpnec.2026.100358
Metadata
- Authors
- Turnwald, B. P., Goyer, J. P., Boles, D. Z., Silder, A., Delp, S. L., & Crum, A. J.
- Affiliations
- Stanford University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Turnwald, Bradley P.
- Venue
- Nature Human Behaviour
- Published
- 2018-12-10
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 48-56
- ISSN
- 2397-3374 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6874306
- OpenAlex
- W2903243478
- Cited by
- 142
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 10.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature Human Behaviour (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (U54EB020405)
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (DP2AT009511)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Physical Performance
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
- Keywords
- genetic risk disclosure, self-fulfilling prophecy, placebo effect, nocebo effect, perceived exertion, running endurance, satiety, genetic testing
- MeSH terms
- Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Adult, Exercise Test, Physical Exertion, Female, Genetic Testing, Humans, Male, Obesity, Risk, Exercise Tolerance, Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Young Adult
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
