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The genetic architecture of body mass index from infancy to adulthood modified by parental education
Author(s) -
Silventoinen Karri,
Huppertz Charlotte,
van Beijsterveldt Catharina E.M.,
Bartels Meike,
Willemsen Gonneke,
Boomsma Dorret I.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.21588
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , body mass index , demography , obesity , twin study , medicine , genetic architecture , social class , pediatrics , early childhood , developmental psychology , psychology , biology , population , genetics , endocrinology , heritability , sociology , quantitative trait locus , political science , law
Objective A higher prevalence of obesity in lower socioeconomic classes is common in Western societies. This study examined the role of gene–environment interactions in the association between parental education and body mass index (BMI) from infancy to the onset of adulthood. Methods Parentally reported BMI from 1 to 13 and self‐reported BMI from 14 to 20 years of age were collected in 16,646 complete Dutch twin pairs and analyzed by genetic twin modeling. Results At 7 to 8 years of age, children whose parents had middle or low educational levels had more excess weight than the children of more highly educated parents, and the difference increased until 18 to 20 years of age. The major part of the BMI variation was explained by additive genetic factors ( a 2 = 0.55–0.85), but environmental factors common for co‐twins also played a significant role, especially from 3 to 7–8 years of age ( c 2 = 0.15–0.29). The genetic variation in BMI was higher in children whose parents had middle or low educational levels compared with children whose parents had a high educational level. Conclusions The interaction between genetic factors and the childhood social environment may contribute to the formation of socioeconomic differences in obesity.