The Body-Mass Index of Twins Who Have Been Reared Apart
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To assess the relative importance of genetic and environmental effects on the body-mass index (weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters), we studied samples of identical and fraternal twins, reared apart or reared together. The samples consisted of 93 pairs of identical twins reared apart, 154 pairs of identical twins reared together, 218 pairs of fraternal twins reared apart, and 208 pairs of fraternal twins reared together. The intrapair correlation coefficients of the values for body-mass index of identical twins reared apart were 0.70 for men and 0.66 for women. These are the most direct estimates of the relative importance of genetic influences (heritability) on the body-mass index, and they were only slightly lower than those for twins reared together in this and earlier studies. Similar estimates were derived from maximum-likelihood model-fitting analyses--0.74 for men and 0.69 for women. Nonadditive genetic variance made a significant contribution to the estimates of heritability, particularly among men. Of the potential environmental influences, only those unique to the individual and not those shared by family members were important, contributing about 30 percent of the variance. Sharing the same childhood environment did not contribute to the similarity of the body-mass index of twins later in life. We conclude that genetic influences on body-mass index are substantial, whereas the childhood environment has little or no influence. These findings corroborate and extend the results of earlier studies of twins and adoptees.
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Evidence from studies of families, twins, and adopted children shows that at least 40-70% of the variation in body weight is explainable by genetic factors (heritability).
“Evidence from studies of families, twins, and adopted children shows that at least 40–70% of the variation in body weight is explainable by genetic factors (heritability).90–92”
From Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity (2025) · cites this paper as [90]
Self-reported height and weight data are valid and reliable, as shown by correlations of 0.97 for height and 0.95 for weight between self-reported and measured values in SATSA.
“However, analyses completed in the SATSA comparing self-reported and measured information on heights and weights (within a one year period) resulted in a correlation of 0.97 for height and 0.95 for weight20.”
From Overweight in midlife and risk of dementia: a 40-year follow-up study (2009) · cites this paper as [20]
Twin studies and other approaches have established a substantial genetic basis for obesity with a heritability of 0.7-0.9, a level exceeded only by height.
“Consistent with this, twin studies and other approaches have established a substantial genetic basis for obesity with a heritability of 0.7-0.9, a level exceeded only by height (64).”
From Leptin at 14 y of age: an ongoing story (2009) · cites this paper as [64]
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- Authors
- Stunkard, A. J., Harris, J. R., Pedersen, N. L., & McClearn, G. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Venue
- New England Journal of Medicine
- Publisher
- Massachusetts Medical Society
- Published
- 1990-05-24
- Volume
- 322
- Issue
- 21
- Pages
- 1483-1487
- ISSN
- 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
- 1533-4406
- OpenAlex
- W2319176243
- Cited by
- 1,286
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 60 · 2012: 48
- FWCI
- 23.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (R01AG004563, AG04563)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Physical Performance
- Keywords
- body mass index, heritability, monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins, twins reared apart, non-additive genetic variance, childhood environment, twin studies
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Analysis of Variance, Environment, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Factors, Twins, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic, Models, Statistical, Body Mass Index
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